001All right. At this time I'd ask everyone stand for the pledge of allegiance. So at this time we have two presentations. We have the presentation for the annual persons of the year for 2026 in cooperation with the combined PTAs and the Denville Education Foundation. Um Dr. Forte, do you want to get us going with that? I'll come down. >> This is something we started nine years ago. And um I think it's really important. It was one of my big goals to get it going and this year we had over 100 nominations, somewhere around 120 different nominations for student of the year, staff member of the year, and community member of the year. The only criteria is that the person has to go above and beyond for the pre-K-8 Denville students. That's the only criteria. So
002we we received so many different great commentary, right? Like the people that were on the committee. So it's it's supported by the combined PTAs and it's supported by our education foundation. So they really help us a lot with it. They help select the winners. Um it was on the committee was myself, Dr. Collis, the three presidents of the PTAs, and then the the president of the Denville Education Foundation. So after reviewing everything and taking some time and going over it, we selected the winners. Um this year the two adult winners are going to receive a $200 gift certificate to the to Casa Bella and a plaque. And our one student winner is going to receive a gift certificate to Pasta Shop, to um Bubble in Paradise, and Denville Dairy. These were things that we were
003told that that person likes. So, that's what we do. So, I have Dr. Moore and myself. We have some speakers to announce the winners, and I'd like to call them up if you wouldn't mind. Can I have Mr. Korman and whoever else you have coming up? For uh s- community member. >> Oh, all right. >> Good. Okay. Great. >> Mr. Korman, principal of the middle school. He'd like to speak a little bit about our winner. >> All right. So, I have this speech, but before I get to my speech, typical Ms. Dates. Today, I walk into the office and they tell me nobody's there to serve hot lunch. I go, "Okay, I'll go." knowing Ms. Dates will be there any minute. She comes running in carrying a million different things. Probably did 3 million different
004things today while most of us only did a thousand. So, let me get into this. Good evening, members of the Board of Education, faculty that are here, family and community members. It's my privilege to recognize someone who represents the very best of our school community. Tonight, we celebrate Ms. Dates, our community member of the year. As PTA president, Erica has been more than a volunteer. She's been a steady, thoughtful leader of the PTA and tireless advocate. Whether organizing events for the students or staff, supporting teachers, encouraging parent involvement, or simply stepping in whenever help is needed. Erica consistently leads the PTA with generosity, positivity, and heart. What makes Erica especially deserving of this recognition is not just the number of hours given, but the impact of those efforts. She helps create the kind of school
005culture we all strive for. One where people feel welcome, supported, and connected. Our students benefit every day from the sense of community that Erica helps build. In education, we often say that schools are strongest when families and educators work together. Erica exemplifies that partnership in every possible way. Her dedication reminds us that things happen when people invest in one another and the success of children. On behalf of the entire Valley View community, thank you, Erica, for your leadership, your kindness, your unwavering commitment to our students and families and staff. We are incredibly grateful, and this recognition is truly well deserved. You will be greatly missed as you move on. Congratulations on being named community member of the year. >> Thank you. Say anything? I just want to say a quick word, too. Um Mrs. Dates
006and the other two PTA presidents were really helpful when it was time to raise your taxes this year on that question. So, I really do appreciate that they helped us get the word out. So, we appreciate that. I'm just trying to, you know, give some of the credit to them, too, about the taxes, not just me. But, they were great. So, thank you so much. Let's get a picture. You want to Let's get a picture of the two of you and then we'll leave. >> Yep. >> Thank you. >> Excellent. And one more. Excellent. >> Thank you. >> Okay, for our next person I'd call up the people that would like to come up to speak about our staff member of the year. So, we could we have Ms. Petruolo's family and Mrs. Theodoropoulos. And
007I'm not sure if there's anyone else. I think those are the ones for this. That's great. >> Hi, everyone. My name is Sutton and I am 9 years old. And I And a student at Riverview. I want to talk to of my teacher, Ms. Bowman, she is very special to me. Before I met her, some things were hard for me. Reading was hard. Writing was hard. Math was hard. But Ms. Bowman helped me. She is patient. She is kind. She is never gives up on me or any of her students. She helps me learn how to read. She helps me learn how to write. She also helps me when I feel worried. She makes me feel safe. Some Sometimes I felt scared I couldn't do things, but she stayed with me and believed in me.
008She always supports me. Now I can do things I didn't think I can do because of her I believe in myself. Because of her I know I am smart and I can do hard things. She She She makes me feel proud. She makes me feel strong. She makes me feel like I can do anything. Ms. Bowman didn't just teach me, she helped change my life. I love my teacher and I am so happy she is getting this award. She is very is the best. >> Wow, let's give her a big round of applause again, right? And good job. We're so proud of you. Wow, I don't know if I could match that because it was perfect. Really well done. So, I am very honored here to come here tonight to on to recognize someone who
009truly is an incredibly deserving of this award. And to be named staff member of the year, Melissa Spellman. I had the pleasure working with Melissa since 2017 when she began as a River View kindergarten teacher. Over the years, I've watched her continuously adapt, grow, and rise to every challenge presented to her. From teaching kindergarten to resource room and every grade level except fifth. Then working to the ABA room and back to resource room. And every grade level that she has had, she continuously made sure that she took over that role with grace, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to her students. There's so many things that I can say here about Melissa cuz she's truly an extraordinary human and educator. And then I honestly could not say them all tonight. But what stands out most is
010the environment she creates for her children. Melissa has a unique gift of creating not only a beautiful classroom environment aesthetically. So, when we had new teachers come into the school, I'm always like, "Well, if you want to get ideas, I happen to know what classrooms to take her." I'd always take them to Melissa Spellman's room because not only is it beautiful, but more importantly, she creates an environment that the children feel welcome, they feel safe, they feel feel supported. The moment you walk into her classroom, you feel it. Her gentle personality, calming presence, and genuine kindness creates a a space where students feel valued, supported, and capable. Melissa believes deeply in her students. She builds them up consistently and helps them believe in themselves. She approaches teaching with such intentionality and focus, carefully monitoring students'
011growth, starting with small, attainable goals until you see them thrive. And at the end of the year, these students become unrecognizable. They are truly filled with joy and pride in all that they've accomplished under her. She helps them academically, socially, and emotionally. Melissa is also a pleasure to work with. It's truly been an honor. She's every principal's greatest dream. She's always open to feedback, incredibly modest despite her many talents, compassionate, and constantly putting students first. The love and belief she has for her students is inspiring to everyone around her. As a principal, I've always believed that some of the best educators are the ones that need to really be looking always at the lens of abundance, especially when working with some of our most vulnerable students. And to see every potential and every strength, and
012that is something that Melissa truly excels at. Melissa embodies the mindset every single day. She never gives up on students and always focuses on what they can become, and they will become. On a personal note, not only have I had the privilege of working alongside Melissa, but I've had the joy and the pride of being the principal of our two beautiful students and children, Natalie and Luke. It has been a pleasure being their principal over the years, and they also embody what it means to be a Riverview Rocket, always and forever, right? They're wonderful students, and it was great to be able to have that wonderful experience, as well. This year, I asked Melissa to step it up once again, and asked her to be a team leader. And she did it with such great
013grace and positivity. She led a whole brand new team, and together they thrived. She showed kindness and support, helping new teachers feel valued, heard, and welcomed. Beyond the classroom, Melissa advocates for students in the involvement of CPAC, as a mom, in the community, and always doing what is best for students and the community. I watched even the instructional aids come and grow, and refine their practice under her leadership. They've also often told me that that has been the best experiences they have ever worked with in our school, and I feel such pride. Because she has it such a way, just like a gentle, kind way of helping everyone around her do better and be better. Melissa, this is recognition is something you deserve so well. You I'm incredibly grateful for the impact you've had in
014our students, on myself, and everyone around you. It is with great pride that I give you this award today, and that the community and everyone involved is here to support you and believe in you. I was really secretly hoping that this would keep you here. You know, but it didn't work. But I tried to convince her to stay a little bit longer. But congratulations, Melissa. We're so proud of you. Good luck in everything that you do. I genuinely couldn't be prouder, and it was an honor working with you every day. Thank you. >> And we have one more speaker, Mrs. Esterino, like to say a few words, too. >> So, Melissa, we couldn't let you leave without reaching out to some colleagues to hear about what they think and what they've witnessed from you over
015the years. On a personal note, Melissa was um a co-teacher in my son's kindergarten class, and he struggled immensely with school, and with Melissa, he came home with enthusiasm and excitement. So, I've been blessed to see her work firsthand. But, one of your colleagues says, "What makes Melissa's impact even more remarkable is how consistently her colleagues describe all of the following qualities. We talk of her unwavering pa- patience, her compassion, her humility, and her ability to foster trust and safety for every single student who walks through her door." They also describe classrooms that are warm, welcoming, calming, and filled with care. Spaces where children feel comfortable enough to take risks, learn, and grow. They also talk about this tremendous impact. One new teacher said that they found encouragement and reassurance in Melissa's kindness and professionalism.
016Fellow educators found a trusted partner, collaborator, and friend. "Simply put," says one, "the people around Melissa become better because of her presence." Another colleague shared that we are all better educators and people for having her in our lives. And we truly believe that that captures Melissa perfectly. For years, Melissa has quietly and consistently given her best to the students and families of Denville. Her influence can be seen not only in academic growth, but in the confidence, security, and joy that her students carry with them long after they leave her classroom." And that's from one of your co-teachers. Melissa, your dedication, compassion, and heart have left a lasting imprint on this district and so many of your students' lives. While this recognition could never truly capture everything you have meant to all of us at Riverview,
017it is incredible and well deserved. Congratulations on this honor, and we hope you know how much we will all miss you. Welcome. >> Thank you. Wow, that's a lot of stuff about you, right? Um I just wanted to remind I just wanted to let everybody know that only you're getting your award, you're getting a citation from Assemblyman Bergen. So, in your packet is another citation. I wanted to make sure I didn't forget to say that. So, turn it over to Mrs. Spellman. >> Thank you so much. I am truly overwhelmed by everyone's kindness and support. I'm shaking. I was trying to hold it together and not cry through all of that. So, thank you so much. It really means a lot. I want to thank the Board of Education, Dr. Forte, Dr. Collis, the PTA
018for this recognition. I'm truly just so thankful and incredibly honored. Mrs. Theodoropoulos and Mr. McCabe, thank you for your endless encouragement, guidance, support, and leadership throughout my time at Riverview. You believed in me and you've helped me grow in so many ways, not just as a teacher, but as a person, too. Um the relationships that I've built with my students, their families, um and all of the amazing, dedicated teachers, um and staff in Denville that I've worked with over the years have truly been the heart of this job for me. I'm so grateful to be a part of such a special school community, and thank you again for this honor. Thank you so much. >> Let's get a couple pictures. Yeah, come on over here. There you go. >> You have family, too? >> Yes.
019Yes. >> Thank you. Thanks. There's a part. Okay. And our last award for the evening, I'd like to call up Mr. Korman and Ms. Berkowitz to say a few words about our student of the year. If you wouldn't mind coming up, that would be great. Thank you. Just you. Okay. That's fine. It's not just you, anyway. >> Oh, and in pure millennial fashion, I have it on my phone. All right. Thank you guys so much for having me. This uh this year's student of the year is someone who brings passion, determination, and leadership to everything that she does. As the student director of our school musical, she led with confidence, creativity, and an incredible commitment to making sure every detail came together successfully. Everyone who knows her knows that she is someone who's incredibly driven
020in every part of her life, from rock climbing to academics to directing, and that determination pushes not only herself, but also the people around her to do their best. She has incredibly high standards, a strong sense of purpose, and the persistence to see things through, all of which have made a real impact on our school community. It's my honor to congratulate this year's student of the year, Amalie Shay. >> So, you have your student of the year award, and you got your gift certificate in there. Would you like to say anything? >> Um >> Well, you're the director of the play, so you're not shy, right? >> Um none of None of this would have had been possible without Ms. B, and she trusted me throughout this whole entire process of the play. And thank
021you to Mr. Korman, also, for giving me the opportunity. Yeah. >> We get the family? >> I think it's >> I think I think I think the winners too. Got to get the three winners up here and get a couple pictures just the three winners. And um everybody's name is on this. It goes in the board office and this is the second one. So it'll continue. Let's get the winners up here so we can have get a picture with the three winners, yeah. Mr. Dr. Moore. >> Yeah. >> I like it. Perfect. Ready? One, two. Awesome. >> Thank you so much. >> Thank you. Now you can see why this is like one of the best things we do every year. So this is great hearing all the great stories about our staff, our students
022and our community members. So thank you all. Um if you want to stay, you're more than welcome to. We're going to continue with the board meeting, but thank you all and thank you to the three winners for all that you do for our district. >> Please. Let me bring I know. >> Okay, just continuing with special presentations with the announcements. We have May 18th. We have the Riverview students and staff. On June 8th, we have Valleyview and special services students and staff along with Valleyview Athletics County Championships. And also on that day we'll go over 25-26 goals recap, 26-27 goal setting, the board self-evaluation review with Dr. Panero from NJ SBA. And that leads us into superintendent's comments and whenever you're ready, you can take it from there. >> I have I guess we can
023talk about it later, but we were thinking about I know there's been talk about among some of the board members changing the the meeting on the 8th to just a recap and board self-eval and then doing the goal setting at a different date over the summer because of test scores and some other things and also to spread it out. Do you want to have that conversation later? Do you want to have it now? >> So yeah, we can we can have that now. I think it uh Don had raised the idea and uh so we thought we would bring it up in discussion here. One of the possibilities is to have Dr. Panero still come and he'll do his presentation and go over the um the self-evaluation review, but then we would do the goal
024setting finalization at another time. Um you know, over the summer in July or something like that. The thought was that it was a lot to to accomplish on that day. So, are there any thoughts about that? >> My only comment would be that it would be within like a 30-day period so that things are kind of fresh and we don't lose track of things. I mean June 8th, when's the next meeting after June 8th? >> July 13th. >> And we certainly can work on some of the goals. I just really wouldn't be able to make an academic goal until I get all the data from the year and and GSLA. >> And that usually isn't until mid-summer anyway. >> Mid-July. I can get That's usually mid-July to But it's a new test so I just
025don't know. I mean, I'll have a lot of benchmark data that I could you know, help, but we could also work on other goals and just not get to the final academic >> Well, certainly the academic goals I'm putting together in conjunction with what needs to approve, which would be coming from your testing, is really important. So, that's a That's a good idea. I want to propose that the idea especially since you see where we have a light going up right right through June. You know, the summer people are on vacations and maybe if you want to get the New Jersey school board people involved, they've been very helpful. And getting our goals together, you know, those are some stumbling blocks that are in the way that would have to be overcome. But again, just
026going back, I think we do a much better job now on our goals than we had done in the past. In the past, we had goals, but they were to develop you know, there was the word develop and everything and it was uh it was kind of open-ended. Yeah, you could develop a plan, but you got to implement it and then you have to have an action plan that you're going to be following with objectives, etc. So, uh So, we do want to do a good job, but I just think that it it's important to have goals, but I think it's at a meeting that's separate from everything else, you can really focus on goals, you know, worried about any, you know, presentations, uh go to the course and all that other stuff. It's just
027goals and only goals. >> Just a quick thought. Um one of the concerns I have with pushing that back, you're talking about about 6 weeks or so we'd be pushing it back or 5 weeks. Um is just the other goals and the fact that that's uh, you know, 10% of the year or so that we're pushing those back. And so, to give the administration enough time to complete it, maybe we put a placeholder on the on the academic goal and we push that one off, but the other ones we can maybe set or at least kind of get locked in a little bit cuz I just get a little bit fearful that there's not enough time we're giving to the administration in order to hit those other goals that we're going to set. >> Yeah,
028I'd like to comment um in agreement with Mike in the sense that the academic goals could be uh something that we discuss uh in detail after we get the uh the test results. And like Mike suggested, have a placeholder there to strive to better uh area of need uh based off of the test results. So, yeah, if we if we do utilize that time to finalize and hammer out the other goals, then yeah, I do think that it would sort of follow our schedule that we're we're sort of working out as well. So. >> It's not a regulation that we have to develop all the goals and vote on them at one time, right? I mean, you could have three goals and the academic piece could be a fourth goal, but the timeline now would
029be different. >> Yeah, no, I don't I don't think there is, Don. Um when in past years when we've had trouble scheduling that goals recap meeting usually because the SBA representative isn't available, it's ended up getting pushed late. And to Mike's and and um uh James's point, um I think the we're putting the administration a little behind the eight ball because it's now they don't have as much time to to come up with their plans. So, I I would agree with the sentiment of let's try to do as much as we can earlier and then put the academic one for for later and get that locked down as soon as we can. >> Uh Dr. Panero, how does that sound to you? >> Yeah, that's fine. I mean, I think we can work with it.
030I mean, as far as uh I definitely think the goal the academic goal should be based upon the data. So, I think that waiting for the data is probably the best cuz I can take my best guess. You know, I can see what's going on for the year, but I think it's best to have the data to support it. >> I think we'll we'll um have drafts of like our recommendations for the committees prior to this just so that that eighth can be hitting the ground running. Um and then so, we'll have our we'll have our PowerPoint ready for committees so you guys can go through it all and then and then we'll talk about them on Monday with Dr. Panero. Does anybody want to move Dr. Panero's meeting? That's the only thing I would
031need to do like ASAP. So, you guys are all good with the eighth. Okay, got it. >> I do have one follow-up question. What time will Valley View and the special services students make their presentation? Would we be closer to like 6:30 or would it >> 7:30. So, 6:00 we start, we take care of all of our business. Hopefully, we get done with Dr. Panero, talk about the goals in that part and then even maybe hopefully some of the stuff on the agenda and then let the um let the kids come in and talk a little bit. >> It's 7:30. >> And my last comment is the student re-registration of rising fifth grader rising to sixth went out last Friday. That's uh in our policy 5111 mandatory re-registration for all rising sixth graders at the
032end of fifth grade. Um all students must re-register just like you do when you register the first time and um students who don't do that have to be investigated to find out if they live in town and then there's a process for that. But I just want to let you know that that's when it that's gone out already and the process has begun. And that's it for the superintendent comments. >> Just to go back 1 second. Um the email for the athletics was for 6:30. So I think they're they think they're coming here at 6:30. Just so that we get some clarification on that one. >> I will resend that email again, but I believe it was 6:00 for executive session, 6:30 for the open public meeting. >> Mhm. >> Oh, yeah, that's I'm sorry.
033I was wrong. So it's 6:30, Pinero 7:30. So we're trying to get the other part done before 7:30, okay? So 6:00 executive, 6:30 >> open public >> open session, go through all the stuff, hopefully get the agenda done and then do the let we're at the last of the time from 7:30 for the if self eval. I don't know. Getting losing it already, but >> So kindergarten update. Uh we still are we just had one more student since last meeting. 186. We have Lakeview, 93 students. Riverview is 89. We have one family that's still uh in the flex zone. And three IEP students who have not been placed yet uh based on programming. So, that will be updated with those students. So, we have 186. Looks like class sizes right now are 17 to 18
034in kindergarten. We have 10 sections. Uh in the past we've had nine. So, this will be the first time in a long time that we've had 10. Reminder, our summer Dalla program is the registration is open. It runs June 29th through the 20 July 23rd. So, please look at the Friday folder or on our website for the registration. Uh it's important that we get all of those students registered, especially if they're looking for transportation. Transportation requests have to be made by June 12th in order for the uh transportation department to come up with their bus routes for the summer programs. This concludes the assistant superintendent's report. >> Dr. Collis, thank you for the uh kindergarten report. Um the spreadsheet that you and Mr. Capello have is phenomenal uh data. I love data. Um if we
035do meet Dr. Gripp's projections or even the other projections that uh Mr. Capello has in that column, uh do we have enough uh staff uh for like one additional classroom? Because I'm assuming that's that's roughly about 30 more students. And I'm assuming that that would equate to about one more class plus distributed up to maybe 19 per class. So, on average. So, >> we have the the space reserved, but we do not have the teacher. We would have to determine we have reserved space in both buildings. We will determine which school would need that. Next section. And we would have to hire an additional teacher. So Mr. Grabowski and I have been working on where that funding would come from and just keeping that in mind. Of of how we would fund that. >> Great.
036Thank you. Okay. Okay. Business administrator's comments? >> I have a couple of comments. For the November board election, we will be having three openings. I am encouraging and pleading for board members to file a petition. The deadline to file is July 27 by 4:00 p.m. to the clerk. If you need the application, please email me, but it's but it's also posted on the district website and also on the municipal website as well, too. This year they changed the signature requirements from 10 to 25. So you would need 25 signatures to file the petition. >> Mr. Anderson, I'm sure you can get 15 more signatures. >> There's no way I'm going to meet that requirement. >> And my last comment is if anybody's going to the New Jersey school board conference in October, please email me
037if you haven't done so so we can sign you up. Everybody signed up, but I need to cancel by certain date in early September. Thank you. >> I believe you also submitted the information about the board to the Friday folder. Is that accurate? >> Yes, this year for the first time we also post that information in the Friday folder. >> All right, now we'll move to open public discussion. This portion of the meeting is open to any individuals for the purpose of addressing resolutions in this agenda or matters that they find as important to the Board of Education and is governed by board policy 0167 and we will open that at 8:09. Just come right up to the chair, sign in, and speak into the mic. >> All right. >> And if you can state
038your name and address for the record, please. >> Sure. My name is Miriam Martinez. Address is 41 Shady Road in Dunville. So, I'm just here representing the Dunville Education Foundation. Um Scott Wilson is normally here, but uh he's going to be taking a little bit of a step back uh come July and I'll be stepping in for him. Uh so, I'm just here to present some of the events that we're going to be hosting in the next school year, uh starting with movie night, which will be on September 11th. Then the golf outing and the tricky tray, which is our biggest event, will be on October 8th. We will be doing the mother-son bowling in November and the sweetheart dance in February. And I'm just looking forward to getting to know everybody and continuing all
039the work that we do for our all of our schools and the kids. That's it. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Okay, seeing that there's uh no one else in person or online, uh we will close this portion at 8:11. And now we'll move on to old business, no action to be taken. Um I'd like to uh turn your attention to item A, which is the board approved following reports, uh April 2026, the treasury of school monies and the board secretary. Um B is the education report, student enrollment April 2026, and the report of health office April 2026. Uh item number C are the minutes uh for work session and executive session on April 13 and regular session and executive session on April 27. And then we'll move into new business, action
040to be taken. Under personnel, Mr. Capello, if you could take us through that. >> Um under personnel, I'd like to uh if there are no objections, I'd like Oh, thank you. >> Uh it's been a little while, I guess. Um sorry, let me start again. Under personnel, if there are no objections, I would like to move items 1 through 8 as a block. Uh item 1 includes new hires, resignations, retirements, employee leaves, extra pay, salary adjustments. In this case, uh we will be approving some uh work uh over the summer for various uh staff. We have two resignations and finally we have one retirement of our facility director, Jerry Marinelli. Congratulations, obviously, to him. Uh number two, we have uh the attached staff list for the 2026-2027 school year. Uh number three, we have the
041updated master staff list. Number four is the revised substitute list. Number five is uh the updated list of staff for the ESY Denville Accelerated Learning Academy or DALA and the uh CST work for for summer 2026. Number six is we are rescinding uh a resolution from March 16th of 2026 for a substitute teacher. Number seven, we are approving the attached employment contract for um Mrs. Mrs. Damaris Goralski, business administrator for the 2026-2027 school year per executive county approval. And finally, number eight, we are approving the attached sidebar agreement uh with a DEA employee for the 2026-2027 school year. >> I'll second. >> Okay, if there are uh no comments or questions, we'll go to roll call. >> I have a comment. I just want to bring to everybody's attention um Jerry Marinelli's retirement. He's going
042to be sorely missed. Um this position gave a tremendous amount of uh improvement to how we ran our buildings and grounds and operations area. Um he's re- retired. I think he was assistant chief at the sheriff's department. Dr. Forte? >> He was actually the chief of Morris County Sheriff's Department. >> Okay. And um he did a great job. Just one quick example I'll cite. Uh one morning soccer, I get a call early in the morning that the the bathroom door wasn't working at Valleyview and that recently installed bathroom with the outside access. And I called Dr. Forte up and Jerry was there at Dr. Forte for several hours till we got that um door to stay open when it was supposed to. There was an issue with the timing if I recall with the computerized
043system. So, it was a Saturday. Most people have that day off and he was up there uh spending the time getting the problem straightened out. So, uh we have to uh I guess be very diligent in it's finding somebody that's suitable to do that job because it was a big improvement once he was on board. >> I I got to agree with you. He was That was a big difference um from my time here. Having Jerry involved was a huge and he very local, so he was able to come anytime. And um yeah, he definitely will be missed. >> Okay. Roll call. >> Ms. Dellis? >> Yes. >> Ms. Asterino? >> Yes. >> Mr. Cass? >> Yes. >> Mr. Anderson? >> Yes. >> Mr. Capello? >> Yes. >> Mr. Kim? >> Yes. >> Dr. Moore?
044>> Yes. >> Next, we'll move to instruction and program. Uh Mrs. Asterino, if you could move us through that. >> Sure. Um I move to approve the following resolutions under instruction program. First would be the attached list of field trips for the 25-26 school year. And then also that the board approve James Bovis, high school student from Parsippany-Troy Hills School District to complete a senior internship between Lakeview, Riverview, and Valleyview this May and June. >> Second. >> Okay, roll call. >> Ms. Edelstein >> Yes. >> Ms. Esterino >> Yes. >> Mr. Cass >> Yes. >> Mr. Anderson >> Yes. >> Mr. Capello >> Yes. >> Mr. Kim >> Yes. >> Dr. Moore >> Yes. >> Uh seeing that there's uh nothing under governance, we'll move on to finance. If Mr. Anderson, you could uh move
045us through that. >> Sure. If there are no objections, I'd like to move on to finance uh items number one through three as a block. This includes uh the agreement with Barbara C. Miller PT, PA to provide physical therapy services and evaluations for the regular and extended 2026-2027 school year at the rates uh in the agenda. Second item is for the board to approve uh contract with behavioral therapy associates to complete independent functional behavioral assessment, including functional analysis for student a student listed in the agenda at the cost listed also. And the final one is a resolution urging relief from rising public school employee health care costs. And if you'd like to Dr. Moore, I can read it into the record. >> Would you like to do that? I think uh that would be great.
046Thanks. >> I I just think it's important, so. Um whereas at a time of continued fiscal uncertainty and mounting challenges, local boards of education from across the state of New Jersey continue to suffer under the growing crisis posed by the rising cost of health care benefits and are desperate for relief. And whereas despite record levels of state investments in public education, those school districts are facing fiscal pressures similar to those confronted confronting the state budget, including the unsustainable growth in health care premiums and the mounting insolvency of the state's public employees health benefits programs. And whereas both within the school health school excuse me, school employees health benefit program and the private market year-over-year double-digit increases are placing tremendous strain on district budgets and local taxpayers alike. And whereas Governor Sheryl and legislative leadership have
047publicly acknowledged the urgent need to address rising health care cost and the challenges facing the schools health benefit plans including both the state and local portions of the state health benefit program and the SEHBP. And whereas the seriousness of this issue is underscored by the mid-year SEHBP analysis released by the Treasury Department in March 2026 which concluded that quote based on these projection projected losses and building in future trends active premium rate increases for 2027 are likely to be in the double digits and quote. And whereas these projected increases would follow the 31.9% premium increase that took effect in January 2026 further exacerbating an overall premium increase of nearly 74% in the preceding five years. And whereas this growth in health care cost far exceeds inflation state aid increases and the fiscal capacity of local
048communities. And whereas rising health care premiums are consuming an ever larger portion of already constrained school budget school district budgets forcing difficult decisions that directly affect students staff and educational quality. And whereas these cost pressures also have significant consequences for taxpayers as district districts are often compelled to utilize the full extent of their available tax levy, even after which many districts remain unable to fully offset these increases due to the constraints of the property tax levy cap, despite the limited health care exceptions. And whereas for the families and students these districts serve, the downstream consequences, including district deficits, program cuts, and school closures mean the loss of community stability, continuity of services, and in many cases access to the specialized supports that our most vulnerable students depend on. And whereas these are also precisely the
049conditions that erode student achievement and weaken the family engagement that is central to strengthening New Jersey public schools. And whereas implementing real, sustainable solutions for the rising cost of health benefits and reforming how benefits are delivered through the S-E-H-B-P would demonstrate the governor's and legislative leadership and continue commitment to New Jersey students, educators, and families, which directly advances our shared goal of affordability and effective, efficient government for all New Jerseyans. Now, therefore, let it be resolved that the Denville Board of Education in the County of Morris calls upon the governor and state legislator legislature to provide immediate short-term relief from the unsustainable increased health care costs experienced by school districts in recent years. And be it further resolved that the Denville Board of Education in the County of Morris urges the governor to engage in
050meaningful engagement with all stakeholders to develop and implement practical long-term reforms to the state's system of delivering health care to its public employees in order to generate meaningful long-term savings. And be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Governor Mikey Sherrill, State Treasurer Aaron Binder, State President uh excuse me, Senate President Nicholas Scutari, Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin Coughlin, excuse me, State Senator Joe Pennacchio, Assemblyman Brian Bergen, Assemblyman Jay Webber, and the New Jersey School Boards Association. >> I'll second. >> Any questions or comments? >> I just have one comment. Uh Senator Bucco was also represents our area as well Senator Pennacchio, so I think we would give him a company. I also believe he's the uh Senate minority leader with the Republicans. >> We do. >> Okay. There are no
051other questions or comments. Uh roll call. >> Ms. Edelstein? >> Yes. >> Ms. Asterino? >> Yes. >> Mr. Cass? >> Yes. >> Mr. Anderson? >> Yes. >> Mr. Capello? >> Yes. >> Mr. Kim? >> Yes. >> Dr. Moore? >> Yes. >> And now we'll move on to operations. Mr. Cass, if you could take us through that. >> I'd like to under transportation, we have 1.1. I'm asking the board to approve to place an auction to solicit bids in connection with the sale of one school bus as follows. Bid number one bids for bus number 16, which is a 15-passenger 2011 Chevy wheelchair mini bus with mileage of 167,773 miles. >> Second. >> Roll call. >> Ms. Edelstein? >> Yes. >> Ms. Asterino? >> Yes. >> Mr. Cass? >> Yes. >> Mr. Anderson? >> Yes. >>
052Mr. Capello? >> Yes. >> Mr. Kim? >> Yes. >> And now we'll move to new business. No action to be taken under personnel. Mr. Capello, if you could take us through that. >> Sure, I'd be happy to. Um I or someone else at our next meeting uh will be moving items which currently consist of number one, updated master staff list. Number two, uh revised substitute list. Number three is uh updated staff list for our ESY, Dalla, and CST summer 2026 work. Uh number four is improve sorry, approve an employee leave of absence and um that's it. >> Okay. Uh there aren't any questions or comments, we'll move on to instruction and program. >> Sure, myself or someone else will ask to approve um the attached list of field trips, and then also to approve Megan
053Mohan, uh Fairleigh Dickinson University student to complete her school psychology externship at Lakeview and Valleyview schools for the 2026-2027 school year. >> And then we'll move to governance. Uh Mr. Kim, if you could take us through that. >> Sure, during the next meeting we will be voting on the second reading and adoption of reg- regulatory R5600 student code of conduct revised. Uh Dr. Moore, if I can spend a another second on that. Um I was able to compare the online, what's available to the public, uh this policy with the work that IMP committee and Dr. Collis is doing, and it is night and day. Um the online version is was a mess. Uh there was like no structure format and uh just fixing that I think was a huge amount of work that Dr. Collis
054put in. So, I want to thank Dr. Collis for really stepping up and helping us with that that policy. So, and I really look forward to seeing how this new policy changes things moving forward with regards to student conduct as well as some of the other things that this policy focuses on. So, thank you for all the work IMP committee and Dr. Collis. >> Okay, we'll move on to finance. Mr. Anderson, if you could take us through that. >> Sure, at the next meeting myself or someone else will move the following resolutions. They'll be our checklist like we normally have in our agenda. Second resolution will be for the board to approve an attached proposal from Atlantic Health for physician services in the amount of $5,000 for the 2026-2027 school year. Resolution number three will
055be for the board to approve the agreement between Home Care Therapies LLC DBA Horizon Healthcare Staffing along with Horizon Staffing Resources both referred to as Horizon and the Danville Board of Education. Horizon shall provide Danville schools on an as-needed and as requested basis the full range of staffing services include registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, certified nurse assistants, health aids, paraprofessionals, as well as other clinical and non-clinical staff referred to as temporary staff staff for the 26-27 school year. Item number four will be for the board to to approve the discard of some old equipment as listed in the agenda. It's a desktop and a laptop. And item number five five will be for the board to approve the amount of tax money is required for the school purposes for the 2026-2027 school year in the
056amount of $41,601,272. And obviously the agenda list the details of how that breaks down. And that's all for finance. >> Okay. And finally we have operations, Mr. Cass, if you could take us through that. >> At the next meeting I'm going to ask the board to approve under transportation the attached list of field trips to transport the summer plus trips 2026 for the Denver recreation department at a cost of $85 per hour. Under buildings and grounds I'm asking the board to approve the attached quote from Cashman landscape management for the district landscape maintenance services for the school year 26-27 in the amount of $42,340. On Thursday, April 30th 2026 at 10:00 a.m. the board of education received one response to which advertised and seeking quotes for grass cutting and fall spring cleanup for the period
057of July 1st, 2026 through June 30th, 2027. >> All right. And then we'll move on to uh, good of the cause. If there any uh, committee reports at this time? >> Um, I and P we we I submitted it and I submitted it late, but I did send it out to everyone today. I don't know if anybody had a chance to look at it, but obviously if you have any questions or comments uh, you can always let us know. >> I will note on the IMP committee minutes if you just have a chance to look at them. It is not our QSEC year. However, if we had had our QSEC year This year, our curriculum instruction, our IMP section would have been the highest we've had. It would have been a 90 out of 100.
058We usually always get the 40 out of 40 that you can get for the curriculum documents themselves, but the the rest remains up to the students. Their their achievement, their progress and growth scores, and attendance. And all of those areas were really strong this time, and we would have gotten 50 out of the 60 points possible. So, we would have been nine total of 90 out of 100, which was fantastic. And our chronic absenteeism is now we would have gotten a nine out of 10. It's really come down. Um and you can see the different achievement and growth in there. So, we did get commendation from the county education specialist that not only did we have the achievement that was high, but we also had the high growth. So, that was great. So, let's keep
059it up for two more years when we have to do the real QSEC. >> Yeah. Uh just a quick update from New Jersey School Boards. Uh they are looking to switch the process from twice a year to once a year. So, that uh with regards to the Delegate Assembly. So, the Delegate Assembly uh they're looking to combine both into one large um meeting uh once a year. So, there is a survey out there sent to all board members. So, if you have time and uh you'd like to fill out that survey, that'd be great. Um and uh Mr. Capello I mentioned this last meeting, but I I think it warrants an uh repeating. Uh Mr. Cass, congratulations on 20 years uh as a board member. And Mr. Capello, congratulations on your nomination for the Irene
060LeFebvre Award. >> And uh I'd like to uh take a moment to move on to the board and district goals as we just talked about uh um earlier in our meeting. This is a a bit of a uh crunch, so I'm trying to uh stretch things out as much as possible. So, um I thought we could uh take a moment tonight just if there's anyone else who has um any more kind of board goal ideas, and then my plan would be uh our next meeting, I'll try and sort of chunk them by by theme a bit if I can, and then we can talk about narrowing it down a bit um and trying to discuss what might be worth pursuing, and then what that would actually look like. You know, some of these are more
061action items than um uh board goals, but I think it could help us frame uh some board goals. So, uh the only thing I'd say is I I did add um to the list uh what was it? Um the uh mandated regionalization cuz I was um so angry at that uh article that uh that that I that I'd read, but um and Jessica DeCicco, she's the vice president for the New Jersey Board Association? >> No, she's the vice president of the Morris County School Boards. Yep. Uh which is uh and head of the legislative committee. >> Yeah, I had a conversation with her, and she didn't seem to think it had any real traction, so it might not be something to to put on for now, but just to monitor. I don't want to, you
062know, set off alarm bells, but it sounded like she felt like he wasn't really speaking what In other words, he didn't really have uh the kind of traction and and uh um political power that he was claiming to have for it. So, I don't know. I mean, we can we can leave it on if you want or or or take it off. We could talk about that in a another time. The other thing that we that um at uh at that banquet, there was um Uh let's see. Where is that? >> I mean, as you look that uh look for that, um Dr. Moore, there's no reason why the governance committee couldn't look to create a resolution similar to the um healthcare resolution that was read tonight. So, um you know, I thought that I
063thought that resolution uh if there's any way we can get that in um board highlights, you know, um uh just so that the public knows that this is uh you know, really really important and it's statewide, you know, maybe we can also look to develop a resolution similar um that governance committee can look at. So. >> Yeah, I mean, that that sounds great. I don't uh I'm adamantly opposed to it and I I think that uh you know, what's being said about it is a misrepresentation of what it could actually produce. And And to be honest, they're just really shirking a lot of their responsibility to try and come up with an easy answer that's uh ultimately going to be our responsibility to fix. Um but there was uh the Mendham school got a uh
064got an award for uh their middle school engagement. Um they talked a bit about how um they were having trouble engaging the parents and that that seems to be a area where, you know, students begin to struggle and and there's you know, we just sort of accept it. And that really resonated with some of the things that we've been talking about. And they I actually ordered the book Middle School Superpowers. Um they used that book for a book study and some ways to try try engage the community. And I thought I'd take a look at that and um maybe there's a way for us to incorporate that into some kind of goal or just to look at it a little bit. Sounds uh um again, I I don't know. I have to read the book,
065but um they they did win an award for it, so I don't know. Are there um any other um possible additions to our our our list here? Any thoughts on on what you might want to add? Um again, you can do this during the week, too. You can just go on. I I invited everyone to the the document, so you can go on and just add some things um to it if you if you want to. And then um as I said, I'm going to try and and kind of clump them together into categories. Then we can sort of go from there in terms of getting rid of things that uh may not may not fit and then trying to look at what that would look like, so um we can get closer and closer
066to uh an actual list before the time comes. So, I just want to give an opportunity for anyone. >> Okay. And uh I'd like to ask if uh Dr. Carlos or Dr. Forte have anything to add. You You gave us our your Dr. Carlos, you gave us your five kind of rough ideas. I don't know if there's anything you want to add to that or >> Not tonight. I don't have any additional ones for for right now. >> All right. So, then let's uh let's move on to um board meeting highlights. Uh Mr. Kim had suggested we get the resolution on there. >> I have persons of the year a reminder about the May 18th and June 8th board meetings and then that the board passed a resolution bringing attention to the high cost of
067health insurance. >> If it's not too complicated, maybe our our you know, mock Cusack scores would be fun to put on there. Um All right, we will then move on to open comments section. This portion of the meeting is open to any individuals for the purpose of addressing resolutions on this agenda or matters that they find as important to the Board of Education and is governed by board policy 0167 and we'll open that at 8:38. Seeing that there's no one online and no one here in person, we will close it at 8:39. And we do have need for executive session. So, I'd like to move that we convene in executive session in accordance with Section 8 of the Open Public Meetings Act. The purpose of this closed session will be to discuss negotiations, legal, security,
068and personnel issues. Minutes of this session will be made available to the public when the need for confidentiality no longer exists. >> Second. >> Yays. >> Yay. >> Yes. >> Yay. >> Okay, and we will not uh be voting when we come back.