001So now we have our uh special presentations. Uh today's presentation is the uh preliminary budget presentation for 2026 2027. Okay. Okay. Um the preliminary budget needs to be given to the county what by the 20th. So we had to have this we had to move our meeting. The governor the newly elected governor asked for a um extension in the amount of time. So we received our information. So here we are. When we were creating the budget we were definitely thinking about trying to keep within m uh the optimal class sizes. obviously keep student achievement on the forefront, preserve the core programs, support student and staff wellness, maintain safe and effective facilities, and ensure fiscal stability. So that's not just this year, but considering future years while navigating the high cost of health benefits. So these
002are some of the big increases. Our labor costs at salary and benefits is going up from 2526 to 2627 2.6 million. Transportation 182,000 tech cyber security student software 173,000 professional development 33,000. And then don't forget we did pass a budget. We did pass a budget question on November 4th for $700,250. So, where does this money go? As you can see, the blue and the red slice are salaries and benefits. We can actually say now that our health benefits are approximately 25% of our budget now. So the the cost of health care is just skyrocketing and um overall just salaries and benefits is taking up over 80% of our of our budget. So how do we how do we do this should be the first question. If you go back to this slide right here, how
003does that work? Right? Because you all know what a 2% cap is somewhere around 763,000. So, how do you come up with all that other money? So, the 2% tax levy is 763,000. The health benefits adjustment is 1.9 million. The question 700,000 and we also got an increase in state aid of 216,000 which I'll address at the end. And the reason why we say that is when we create our budget to begin with while Demaris, myself, and Sandy are working on this um we we typically pick a flat incre flat state aid number. So we did get $216,000 more dollars, but I'm going to address this in a little while in another slide. So the sources of revenue local tax levy 80 87.2%. And don't forget that the reserves is another 2.6. The reserves is
004our money too. So it's really 90% 90% coming directly from our local taxpayers. Here are some projects we have in the budget for um capital and maintenance. Some boiler replacements at uh Valley View and Riverview. window shade replacement at Valley View. We have a wall crack repair at Lake View, sidewalks repair throughout the district, window replacement, an electrical distribution issue at Riverview Annex with the upstairs renovations, and um various repairs and machinery replacements throughout the district. So, the good news is we still have our reserves to be able to do some projects that we always do. And as you can see, a lot of these are things that just need to be maintained. It's not necessarily an improvement or something great that we're so happy we're doing. It's just maintenance and keeping up with everything
005so we don't get back to where we were before um we all started here. So, what's the tax impact? That's the biggest question right now. The way it stands, it's a 7.28% 28% tax levy increase and a $348 increase to the taxpayer. And this is where I want to say to the board and to the public in general. Um when you hear out in the news that the tax benefits is is difficult to maintain because um you have to live within a 2% cap, it's really not accurate. So the the health benefit increase isn't really a cap issue. It's a taxpayer issue because we got the waiver to go outside the cap. And obviously if we didn't get that, you're talking about devastation here because we would have to we would have to eliminate like
006basically everything that's extra. Anything that's that that we do that in this town that's really um that's makes us who we are, we would have to eliminate that to get rid of to keep it at the 2% only. Um, but the most important understanding is this this health benefit crisis and I'm reading about it in other states, too. It's not just New Jersey. It's it's New Jersey. A lot of districts are going through it, but I'm reading about it in Pennsylvania now. I've seen some in the South. I mean, so it's really just a a huge I guess it could be considered a health care cost crisis in the country. And um that's why we're at a $348 increase. Still have some more to say about that though, so we'll get to that in a
007minute. So here's our tax levy of 41,600,000. These are the budget breakdown, the categories. This is stuff we always go through all the time. You can see employee benefits $12 million. So about 25% of the total budget is going towards staff benefits. That That's not something I would expect it to say to be honest with you. 25% going towards that. All right. Here's the slide I really want to talk to you about. So I asked the marriage to go through a few things like because when anything that's added to the budget that's not that you can't get a waiver for is difficult to maintain. So some of the increases in health and and other things over the last 10 years mental health 600,000 security 264,000 cyber security alone now 147,000. All right. I did this
008today. Facts about state aid. This is really important. And if if the board wants to do any kind of advocacy, this is what I would love to see you do. So remember, you remember when we um when we were all happy about S2 and they were like, "Yay, you're giving your 200,000." Well, they're giving us an extra 200,000, but they're shorting us 879,000. So, believe it or not, over the last two years, so last year they shorted us 926. This year they're shorting us 879 for a total of $1.8 million shortage from the state. And and what's happening? Our our local taxpayers are picking that up. So, when you read about all these other districts having to cut things and all this and they're not going over the 2% cap, I get it. But the
009state gave them a mechanism to make up for their lost revenue. This board and this town feel strongly about the programs we have and has and have funded these programs when it should have been coming from another source. A lot of this money should be coming from another source. In two years alone, $1.8 million shorted. And and then here's another one. What I'm really want to explain too is these are laws like the state law is you fund as per the state fund the school funding reform act of 2008 and S2 that's the law there is no other law and then there's another part of school funding reform act of 2008 is called extraordinary aid extraordinary aid is meant for the district to get aid for students that are highcost students for example if you're
010an out of district placement above 55,000, they're supposed to give us 90% of the cost of that student over 55,000. So if you have a student that's 155,000, if you get 90% of 100, you should get 90,000. This year they're funding it at about 50%. So they're shorting us the other four the other 40%. So over the since 2003, important to note the 2027 extraordinary aid has not come out yet. So from 2023 to 2026, they shorted us another million dollars in aid that we're that we're entitled to. I want you guys to understand that this is not like it's black and white. It's not like Steve Forte saying this is what we need. It's this is what they said we're supposed to get, not what I'm saying we're supposed to get. This is what
011they said we're supposed to get and then they give you another number and we're supposed to be happy about getting the other 200,000. So I I like equated to something else. Somebody owes you a million dollars and they give you 200,000. Are you going to be like, "Thanks for theund 200,000." You say, "Where's my other eight?" So while we're grateful we got an extra 200,000 because it did help. It definitely helped us bring back we we had on the budget on the on for some other cuts that were going to be deeper cuts that we're able to bring back and also bank some of it for give it for tax relief yes this year a little bit and possibly for bank cap going forward which we have none this year. So, we're take out of
012the 200,000 we're taking for this budget, we're taking what? 80. So 86,000 went back into this budget to to bring back a couple programs that we cut and >> the other 125 goes towards tax relief for the public or it could be um used next year as cap as a bank cap for the next three years. I just don't know why not enough people are talking about this. It's like it to me it's just absolutely crazy that their own numbers say you get this but then they just give you something else. >> You Dr. Mo, do you mind if I ask just ask uh so we live in a pretty latigious state? So have any districts talked about suing the state and what what's the recourse? I mean seriously like why not? >> So the
013ones I saw is like Tom's River but Tom's River is an interesting one. They lost See, they're the opposite of us. They're losing aid from S2. Yeah. But they're not raising their taxes either. >> So I I have a hard time with the ones that are complaining because they got our money. Like if you remember, they got our money. We're not even getting that money back from S2. We're just we're supposed to be whole and we're not whole again. >> Does everybody get that? Like S2 said we'd be whole by 2023, 2024. We were, >> but now we're not whole again. So S2 phased in over seven years. We became whole. Now we're not whole. And we became whole because they redistributed the money to districts that shouldn't have been getting it that we that
014were getting our aid and they gave it to us. And those same districts won't raise their own taxpayers over to 2% cap or even zero sometimes. And they're sitting there, you know, complaining that that they don't have enough money. And I I get that. It's a different town. I'm not They do what they want to do. But here we are with a 8% tax levy increase, right? While we're being shorted $1.8 million or or even more 2.8 million over the last five years. Yeah. I mean, I you know, you could make a really strong argument that we we should sue the state to fulfill what is in the law on the behalf of our own taxpayers, right? I mean, in theory, that sounds like it would make sense to me. like why is somebody not
015doing that I guess is the is the my question. >> We had that conversation today. I don't know either. You're right. Maybe I should reach out to Betsy at um Garden State Coalition and ask her. Problem with most organizations like that though is they have half and half like the school boards, right? School boards has half of people like us and then half the other ones. So they they they don't take a stand because it affects both of their both sides of their membership. No, this would have to be something that would be done by the districts like us that were losing for all those years and you know yeah I mean so but there's a lot of us. So I I just wonder about the theory of it like is it possible? Is it
016is it a viable strategy? You know what happens at the end of the day? I don't know. But I'd be interested in knowing more because this is ridiculous. Like I mean this is as black and white as you can make it and it's really ugly. Um, you know, it's there's there's no excuse for it. And we have close to a million dollars in cost drivers that, you know, they're super important, but they don't ne they're not necessarily about the core function of what we do, educating kids. I mean, they're important and we have to do them, but it's a huge amount of money that we are have now committed and are committed to spending. And then on the other side, we have this big shortfall. Like, it's just crazy to me. like it's it's this
017is as like you know as bad as it's been in 12 years that I've seen like to me the numbers are just yawning apart. We're getting to the point where I I don't I don't understand how we're going to keep going. And you know I felt I felt like that before but like I've never seen it that look like this. >> Yeah. We we were begrudging a $70 increase after all those years or $60 increase. Like we never had something like this to this level. And if I recall, Tom's River declared bankruptcy. Can >> Can a school district do that? >> A couple of years ago, was it was Tom Bricktown? It was one of the uh the shore area school boards districts. I know Lakewood got taken over by the state that you know
018>> and um you know as I repeat what John Parisian used to say all the time is uh eventually will run out of money you know and you'll have to start you know removing some of the great extracurricular things we do that uh you know you got to make sure you can get fun the uh the basics but I'm glad you clue the eye when you the, you know, almost $3 million shortfall over the uh the funding formula, which has been very unfair, especially the suburban districts over over the years. So, yeah, it's a good point, Dino, that uh should be a legal remedy to uh to sue the state. and getting you remember Carlen I asked her one time too about legislation about this stuff is that they they walk a a tight rope
019with the state legislature because the school boards association has to work with them on legislative changes. So you want to have a a good working relationship with them so you can get that legislation through. So all of a sudden you're suing them the relationship might not be working too well. I mean, the governor in her her address did bring up the fact that the pensions, this public pensions were underfunded by six billion that she said that they would be able to spread around and do some other things with. Um, and she blamed several, you know, administrations before. It's been both parties going back to, I think, Christy Whitman. So, um, I don't know. I mean, that's that's probably their reason or their excuse, but we're still sitting here with all this. And and I just
020want you guys to know, too, um, it's really important to know that to get us to a 2% cap, it's not extracurricular and stuff. It's it's literally everything like you're you're you're decimating stuff maybe to the point we're closing a building like to that level and and we don't have the space. Like so it's it's really not possible to do without complete devastation. Like I've been seeing this and I'm not I'm just quoting what other people said, but it makes sense. You can't cut your way out of this. There's no way to cut your way out of this kind of deficiency. But but at the same time though, we are thinking, you know, when you're reading the newspaper, a lot of these district like even like if you see Montlair, they're they're trying to fund
021their last year's budget with that question and their this year's budget and next year's, right? So, we are thinking that way. We always think like it's not just this budget, it's next budget, too. How do you how do you set yourself up next year for something a little better? The one thing that might help down the road is when all the new homes come online, at least you'll have you'll increase your ratables, which will increase or it'll spread the it'll spread the pain over more people than it is right now. Maybe if maybe if we started our own loose group that was just like us. It has to be all people like us because the other people are on the other side. And uh see if there was a feeling for that. I I'm in
022a small group now and I could ask them if anybody's interested in that. It's the way they the way they sell it to you though is almost like you're supposed to thank them for the 200 grand, not say, "Wait, wait, where was my other 800?" Right. >> Well, I was relieved when I talked to Dearis. I'm like, "Oh, great. 200." I'm like, but yes, but you know, in the scheme of things, you're right. It's a it's a bait and switch. That's it's it's, you know, it's kind of mindboggling. Um, and Montlair got the full like Montlair got 6% increase, which after what they went through is kind of mindboggling to me. like all that money just disappeared and they get a 6% increase like we do which is the max which was the max right
023maximum was 6% that you could get. Yeah. Yeah. >> The way I figured is all the ones who had exactly six there was some more story you know and that's why there was a lot that got exactly six. In a way, you can argue that since uh you know, both you and and Demar's uh have done so well, we're getting penalized for it, right? Because Monontlair had a challenge and so they were able to get 6%. Um um Dr. Forte, um Miss Grosski, thank you so much. Uh Dr. Cullis as well, thank you so much for the presentation as well as all the information that you provided. Um I I do want to go back to a slide. Um the increases in revenue that has a 2% uh tax levy. Um I think you mentioned
024this as well, but I also want to highlight this. I mean the health benefits adjustment is $2 million, right? I mean our 2% cap is $763,000. There's no way we would have been able to pay for that without the the the waiver, the healthcare waiver. And um you know, Miss Kowski and I met earlier today, that waiver is not something that's coming from the state, that's coming from our taxpayers as well. And I think you said that during the slide, but I also want to re-emphasize that it's almost like it's um double-edged sword in a sense that, you know, we have we're not getting as much money from the state that is deserved under S2, but we're also faced with increasing costs, increasing health care costs that was up 30%. that is now a a
025a dollar figure that's tangible, $2 million that we need to now budget for. And so that 2% tax levy is not uh sustainable as I think Mr. Anderson has been, you know, saying year after year. But also, we have to figure out how to control our health care costs. another um initiative that needs to be taken up by the state by Trenton and they're also pushing for increased housing. So, this is almost like a triple whammy. They're they're shortch changing the school districts, but yet they're forcing the townships to increase their population sizes. And oh by the way we also have to deal with other costs like health care like security and some of the other uh mental health uh special needs. I mean uh special education is another big uh cost driver that I'm
026sure that's uh that's also been outlined in here. So um I agree with everything you said Dr. Forte. Kudos to the administration for uh putting this together and uh this is definitely something that requires uh increased advocacy at the uh um the capital. So, thank you. >> And just to add one more thing to your to the mix of what you just said, they're also forcing pilots on the towns. So the the one by the by Chico's was one that was in litigation for several years that was the town was forced to provide a pilot. So like so now now you have extra kids but no extra tax no extra ratables for the schools. Some towns are getting really hit with that. local towns. We're thankfully we're we're only on two and there's only one
027active one. But if there's more of that, it's that that makes even worse because you're going to be bringing new kids in and no additional ratables. Any other uh questions or comments or brilliant solutions? Well, thank you for the uh >> just make sure read through like at the next meet at the next when we finalize this we will make sure it's everybody knows but for right now read through make sure you see there's several cuts too. There's a lot of cutting involved in this. Like it's not just here you go. It's there's things that are going. Okay. Just make sure you see all the stuff on that list of stuff that we're not we no longer have. And that's partly like what always Don says is the unfunded mandates. Handwriting is coming back next
028year. That was our that was $18,000 cost that we didn't budget for. So I had to find $18,000 other things that we we use that I had to cut to make sure that we can fit in that unfund unfunded mandate. So they continually do that every year. They give us new ones. Um that and the literacy was new this year, too. So, you know, those will keep coming. That means you have to purchase what they're telling you you need to cover and then you're not able to get the things that you want to buy. >> Did Did I hear they're they're coming back with >> with like cursive again? >> Yeah, cursive will start next year. Um Okay. >> But that was I mean it's not like you can just you have to buy a
029program. I mean, you need the resources and that we had to budget $18,000 for that. And that's only for three through five. That doesn't count the fact that we we're going to do it. We need to do K through two as well. And I'm not counting those next year. >> And you've you've got to catch up the kids that that didn't get it in the >> Well, if we're going to buy a program that starts in third grade, I mean, really, the foundational skills start in second grade and so forth. I mean, we do it in kindergarten, but now we're going to be forced to purchase things K to two that we weren't well and three to five that we didn't plan on. And that's not a philosophical situation. I'm just saying they've told us
030we are buying it. So, we are buying it. Um, but again, that happened after the budget was already created. So, we had to go back and cut other things to make room for an unfunded mandate. Um there was one question that I had that I forgot to ask Miss Grosski earlier today. Um are we utilizing uh school bus drivers without requiring the CDL? Are we looking do we have in the budget to purchase um you know non school bus related vehicles and um looking to hire nonCDL drivers? that was originally in the budget, but we unfortunately we had to cut those minivans out of the budget to accommodate health insurance benefits and other costs. >> So, this is thing is another one. Um, they passed the law, but they make all these weird rules about
031it. First of all, you can only do it once a year. You can only give provide names once a year. So, you by August 15th or something, you have to provide. So, like let's say you hire somebody and they quit December 15th. You can't replace them. So now what do you do? Outsource? Like what do you do? Another thing is we bought a van. You can't put school. I know this. I see James' face. He's like, what? Right. I know. It's like, hey, great law, but you can't do it. So then, and you got to understand, I'm 100% for this law. I'm like one of the only ones. I'm like, no, we're doing this. Right. So we go out, we buy a van. You can't put the the the school bus plates on the van
032because it can't be a CDL driver. So that means if you are in a pinch or you wanted your somebody else to drive the van, they can't drive it. You see what I mean? Like so we we bought the van. We're using it because we need it for the courier and stuff. I know. It's just nuts, right? So we bought the van. Um we we couldn't get anybody. We had a couple people that would do it, but it wasn't really enough. And you know, we didn't have a lot of time, right? We only had um I don't know, a month or so to try to find people. So, for next year, maybe we'll have a better better luck recruiting some people, but um now the van can't be driven by somebody with a CDL. Yeah.
033So, I reported these to what my this legislative committee I'm on and one of the one of the people on the committee, I mean, one of the legislator uh assemblymen is on this committee and he was taking this up. So, I gave him my take on this. I had to be on another call that same day. So, I couldn't listen to it. But I'm wondering what if that's anything's going to change for that. Um, but I was I I felt like that was a no-brainer. Let's do it. And we we pushed for it. But there's like all these obstacles as usual, right? Instead of just making it easy. Um, but that's where we're at with that. And you I make sure everybody reviews that goal bill on regionalization because if you're thinking about the grand
034scheme of why all this is happening maybe that's why I don't know I mean I don't have a great answer and I'm not I don't like conspiracy theorists and stuff like that but what else could be the reason is it like are they do they really want to make regionalization because um the new regionalization stuff now is they're starting to talk about something that's totally different now, not using the election. So going around the electoral process, they're going to make they would make it so that you don't have to go to the voters that it could be forced. I don't know if this will ever get lags like who knows, but it's the first time I'm seeing something about like we're because right now the law is let's just say ours. Let's use ours for
035example. There's five districts in our region, right? MHRD, Wharton, Rockaway Burough, Danville, and Rockway Township. The way the law is now, all five would have to vote yes. It's four actually because four towns, five districts. All four towns would have to vote yes. Meaning if three of the four passed and the fourth one doesn't, it doesn't happen. And that's not like a cumulative vote like 10,000 votes and you need nine, you know, whatever to win. It's each town individually has to vote for it. So if they circumvent that, maybe there's a way to force regionalization and maybe that's one of the things that they'll think is going to bring cost down. I'm not sure. just got the playback. >> Yeah. So, yeah. Yeah, the legislature came up with 500 or less students. So, um but
036no data as to those those districts having financial problems, etc. So, I think that's something that has to go into it and it it should be on a district-by- district ba basis where the citizens vote to merge districts. And certainly when you put that together, you got to show what's going to be better in those districts after they merge as opposed to staying the way they are. And you're still going to need staffing there. you know, the more districts you have and no doubt you need maybe you have one PR principal, but you're going to need other help too with all the uh administrative work that's come down the pike for uh the administrators over the years. >> Cliff, if you don't mind, I just had one more thought. Um, so I kind of bounced
037over the, you know, you showed me that slide and I saw red. Um, but obviously you guys have done a tremendous job. you always do a tremendous job. Yeah, the slide with the red. Exactly. Um, no, but what I wanted to No, what I wanted to bring up was and this, you know, kind of you'd mentioned this earlier, uh, before I joined the board, I remember a time where at least one of the boilers, if not more needed to be replaced or looked like they were about to fail and there was literally no money. There was no reserves. There was no capital reserve, maintenance reserve. They were literally sweating out how to do that. Um, we're not in that situation. Um, so I mean that's that's a huge positive. It's a huge plus. It's a
038testament to everything that you guys have done year in and year out. And I just wanted to make sure that we we recognize that because we were in a really really different place uh you know what was that 14 15 years ago. So you know we're you know as bad as things kind of look you know on slides like that we are in so much a better place than we were then. So thank you. >> Well I think it comes down to the board too. The board I think you're going to approve this. um some districts aren't doing it and they're going to pay the price because they're just going to keep cutting and cutting and then there's nothing less to cut and um and then you get away from what this town is known
039for, right? What what are we we're known for? Really the whole child, right? We we care about everything. Like you you go to our Veterans Day things, they're they're great, right? I mean, you could just see the whole community's involved. You go to our plays, you go to any of our stuff. So, we care about all of it. Not just, you know, what your test scores are, but what what kind of systems you have for mental health? What are the kids safe and secure? Are the buildings in good shape? All that stuff cares. And and that's a testament to you, to all of you, too, because we've recommended it to you, but you've provided it for the community. And I think that's a huge part of it is that yeah, a lot of places are
040cutting and it's going to be tough. But our our our place with our with our strategic plan with that group there, everybody wanted more and more and more more not less. So, all right. >> Sure. Go ahead. >> Uh, one final question. I'm looking at the final numbers and the tax levy increase is going to be 7.28%. Um, and that includes the 2% tax levy plus the health benefits waiver. And according to my calculations, that health health benefits waiver is about 5.1%. So, does this 7.28% 28% also include that uh budget question that was already approved or um is that baked in somewhere else? 72.8 is the calendar percentage per the calendar year January through December. The fisc year tax levy increase is about 8.9%. Um because it's run fiscal calendar. But yes, it does
041includes the second question, the health insurance waiver, the 2% cap and uh what am I missing? I think that's basically it. >> But it's because of the offset for the calendar year versus the >> that is correct. Yes, because the municipality runs in a calendar year uh for tax purposes and the school runs in a fiscal year. Is this health benefits waiver include the new contract that we're switching over to? Um because uh in and I think I'm forgetting I'm not I can't remember exactly um in 6 months or when does when does this uh 30% increase in health benefits end? In April? >> The 30% increase was for the state and it started in January. However, with the new horizon, we also have similar increases. The difference is in the last 6 months, the
042percentage will be a little less than the 30%. And that's that's when you're going to see a a little saving if the state doesn't go up higher. >> So define a little less when you put in the context of 30%. >> It's it's a less aggressive percentage than the state. Let's put it that way. Uh again is if the state comes back next year with a higher than 30% yes we will be seeing a savings otherwise it's it's pretty much about 27 to 30% increase. >> So even by switching health care benefits uh like the carrier we're still seeing that over 25% increase in health. >> Absolutely. >> All right. So, let me remind everybody because it it's real it's not that easy and some of it almost doesn't make sense. The the the benefits
043for the state go on a calendar year. Our benefits run on a school year. So, that's one thing. We were able to get the change, but the new benefit is actually more than we were paying with the state, believe it or not. Even with the 30%, our savings is going to be in the second half of this next year. So starting January 1, conservatively estimating, conservative estimates, we'll save $600,000 on 12 million, right? So it's not a crazy huge amount. If the state raises it more than what we're expecting, which are everybody's saying that we're expecting a really high raise from the state again, then that $600,000 would be higher. But we're out. Does that make sense? we got out hedging that we're going to save the money in the last quarter in the last
044um six months of next year >> number reflect that $600,000 or >> it reflects $600,000 less really what it really reflects is the exact cost of the benefits. What Dearis does now is she takes the exact cost of what it cost us to for the benefits. When we add a staff member, we have a budget number because we use like a like an average of how much each person's benefits cost and we use that for the budget. So, if there's a new staff member, we don't know exactly what their cost is. We have a budget number for that. >> So, it's not like we're going to see $600,000 savings at the end of the cycle. It's that we budgeted actual. >> Yeah. We're going to pay what we're going to pay. The the the whatever
045that savings is is hypothetical or it's not it's not really >> hypothetical savings. So, so if we never switched, it could actually have been another two instead of 1.9 million, 2.6 million or 2.5 million. Okay. All right. >> Or or even more. Or even more. Yeah. >> I think I need to go to hospital. My god, my heart hurts. >> Sure. All right. Let's move on to superintendent comments if you're ready or if you need a moment. Okay. Um, our persons of the year notice for 2026 is going out to the public on March 20th. It'll be posted on the website. It'll be in the Friday folder. It'll be posted online. It'll be in the local media. We're going to announce the award winner, have the ceremony here on May 11th. It'll be on the
046next agenda, the list of of u presentations. Um not sure if you all saw the article in the tap about US News and our schools that the our schools were rated in the top 10 to 13% of all elementary and middle schools in New Jersey. So that was a pretty cool um article that the tab had. And um our Valley View graduation will be on June 18th at 700 p.m. if anybody's going to that. Our calendar for 2526 allowed for five snow days plus April 6, which is the day after spring break, and May 22nd, which is the Friday before Memorial Day. As of right now, we've used three of our five snow days. Pending any large storms going forward. I mean, barring any large storms going forward, we would expect to be able to
047hold the day after spring break, hold the Friday before um mean hold like still continue with that plan before Memorial Day, and then um cut off two days at the end of the school year. Typically, I put information about this out later in March, so I'll probably do it toward the end of March just not to jinx us. And um because this was rough this winter, it was really crazy. Um so we closed school on December 2nd, January 26th, and February 23rd. We had delays on January 27th, February 24th, and 25th. Another big event coming up this week is Friday, March 20th, 7 p.m. Saturday, March 21st, 2 p.m., and Saturday, March 21st at 7 p.m. Willy Wonka Jr. at Valley View. Again, Friday 7 p.m. Saturday 2 and 7 p.m. Valley View Musical Willy
048Wonka. It's always a big treat to go. So, and this is the first year my daughter was the director, the musical director of her play at Marstown Middle School. So, I got to see Spongebob the musical and I'm going to go see Willy Wonka Jr. in the same month. >> Dr. Forte, can you uh just repeat Valley View Graduation? Was that June 18th, a Thursday? Thursday. >> June 18th, 7 p.m. >> Thank you very much. at Mars Nulls. And that's it for my comments. >> Thank you. Uh, assistant superintendent comments. >> Yes, just a quick kindergarten update. We do have a relatively large class, larger than we've seen in a while. We already have 180 students registered. Uh, and that's 89 at Lake View, 74 at Riverview. We have 17 students in the flex zone
049which a total of 180. That does not include any students that have not been placed in a school through our prek program nor does it include any retentions. So I think there will be seven more as of today. This is really about 187. So we're definitely getting up there. Uh so we're probably going to hit that 200 mark and over I think this year. So, we're pretty early on and we're we're surpassed we're about what 29 students higher than we were at this time last year. Conferences start Wednesday. So, just remember we have half day Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday this week for conferences. This concludes the student superintendent report. >> Dr. Cullis, do we know how that uh kindergarten number relates to Dr. grips forecast for this year. >> Yeah, I think we're going to
050fall. Yes, we're think we're going to fall into that area. He said I believe like 215 214 something like that. And I think we're going to be there. >> Uh been working with Dino and we did a little we have an ongoing chart trying to see patterns over all of the years. And it it according to uh AI we could be as high as 222 if the pattern continues. So we'll see. We >> Okay. Thank you. We've got a lot going on, but we've made uh we know we have nine sections for sure. We're moving on to the 10th section at this point and possibly 11 sections of kindergarten. >> All right, we'll uh thank you. We'll move on to business administrator's comments. Uh first I would like to thank the finance committee for guiding
051us through this challenging uh budget 2627 and asking good questions. Uh second we would like to remind anyone who has not submitted the ethic disclosure form to uh submit it as uh when you have a chance. And last but not least, today we got notified that we received the finance excellence in fi I mean sorry the excellence award in finance. We just got that notice today. Thank you. >> All right. Well, uh thank you very much uh Mrs. Graowski. I know uh you had a a lot to play in our our excellence. So, thank you for all that you do. At this time, we'll uh open up to public discussion. This portion of the meeting is open to any individuals for the purpose of addressing resolutions on this agenda or matters that they find is
052important to the board of education and is governed by board policy 0167. We're opening at uh 8:19 and seeing that there's no one online and no one here in person, we will close it at the same time. 8:19 and we'll move on to old business action to be taken. I'd like to move for approval the following uh resolutions under old business. Under A, we have the uh treasurer of money, school monies reports and the board secretary reports. Under B is the education reports, report of student enrollment, report of health office, and HIV RV03. And for C, it's the minutes for January 5 and uh January 26, items 1, 2, and three. >> A second. >> Roll call. Just a reminder, if you were absent in any of those dates for January, please abstain. >> Mr.
053Delos, >> yes. >> Miss Eterino, >> yes. >> Mr. Cass, >> I'm okay with the January 5th items. I abstain on everything else. January 26 items. >> Thank you, Mr. Capello. >> Uh, yes, >> Mr. Kim. >> Yes, >> Dr. Moore. >> Yes. and we'll move into old business. No action to be taken. Um under the following resolutions under old business, we have A, which is the uh reports for treasurer of school monies and board secretary. Item B will be the February uh student enrollment and health office. And then item C will be the uh work session and executive session for February 6. Under uh new business action to be taken. If uh Mr. Capello, you could take personnel. >> I'd be happy to. Uh if there are no objections under personnel, I would like
054to move items 1 through 10 as a block. Uh one includes uh new hires, resignations, retirements, employee leaves, extra pay, salary, and adjustments. Uh number two is approving the updated master staff list uh tab one only for the 2526 school year. Three is the uh approve the substitute the revised substitute list for 2526 school year. Number four, uh, for the board to rescend the February 926 resolution, um, approving, uh, as an ABA aid, um, and retroactively approve, uh, the same person. Actually, I apologize. I'm confused by that wording. >> What number? >> It's a step up. It's a Okay, it's a approval of a step. Uh, okay. Movement on a step. Okay, gotcha. Uh number five is approving employee for a leave of absence under FMLA. Number six is approving another uh employee for a
055leave under FMLA as well. Number seven, uh retroactively approve an employee for a leave of absence under FMLA. Number eight, uh also leave of absence uh under FMLA. Uh number nine, leave of absence under FMLA. And number 10, uh leave of absence under the FMLA act. I'll second. Roll call. >> Mr. Delos? >> Yes. >> Miss Asterino? >> Yes. >> Mr. Cass? >> Yes. >> Mr. Capello? >> Yes. >> Mr. Kim. >> Uh, congratulations on the two retirements. And yes, >> Dr. Moore. >> Yes. under uh instruction and program. Mrs. Eststerino, could you lead us through that? >> Sure. Um I move to approve the following resolutions under IMP. We have everything from workshops and expenses in one. We also have the attached list of field trips for the 2526 school year as well as
056the listed items from the Lake View Library for recycling and the Shannondoa Salamander climate change presentation to Valley View for sixth graders on March 25th. And then also the title three purchases and that is A through F. And then lastly, board of education approve to place an advertisement for bid solicitation in connection with the sale of various old technology equipment not in use by the district. So HP laptops, Apple iPads, smartboards, and NEC projectors. >> I'll second. >> Roll call. >> Miss, >> yes. Miss Estonino, >> yes. >> Mr. Cass, >> yes. >> Mr. Capello, >> yes. >> Mr. Kim, >> yes. >> Dr. Moore, >> yes. >> And for governance, uh, Mr. Kim, can you take us through that? >> Sure, I'd be happy to. But uh before I uh motion for this resolution,
057um I noticed that we're voting on first reading for this week and then we'll be voting on the second reading for next week. Uh don't we usually have an extra month in between? >> It's because we cancelled the February 23rd meeting which this was supposed to be approved to during that meeting and the next one will be on no action. >> Got it. Okay. Thank you for um so in that case I motion that we approve for first reading the list of policies and regulations that are on the agenda. I'd like to bring to the board's attention that the two on the bottom for sexual harassment are being abolished and replaced with the two policy 1552 and regulation 1552. Second. >> I'll second. >> Roll call. >> Miss Delos. >> Yes. >> Miss Asterino. >>
058Yes. >> Mr. Cass. >> Yes. >> Mr. Capello. >> Yes. Excuse me. >> Mr. Kim. >> Yes. >> Dr. Moore. >> Yes. >> And for finance, uh, Mrs. Sadelis, can you take us through that? >> I sure can. Uh I move to approve the following resolutions under finance. Number one, be it resolved that the board retroactively approve the enclosed checklist in the following amounts uh for the milk fund, the current expense fund, and the elementary enrichment. Two, be resolved that the board of education approve to appropriate and transfer 300,000 from the emergency reserve account into the health benefit budget line to help with the increases in health benefit premiums pending department of education commissioner's approval. Three, be it resolved that the dembled the board of education approved the attached revised meeting calendar for 2026. Four,
059the be it resolved that the demold board of education approved the attached contract agreements between the YMCA and the demo board of education for the school year 2026 to 2027 2027 to 2028. 5B. It resolved that the board approve the agreement with Kid Therapy LLC to provide occupational therapy services for students at $88 an hour from March 19th, 2026 until May 28th, 2026, not to exceed 67 hours. Be it resolved six be resolved that the board retroactively approve the following out of district placements as per the students IEP. Seven, that the board of education approved the donation of two new LED spotlights for the Valley View stage donated by the Valley View Performing Arts Booster Club at a value of $1,556.70. be resolved that the tenative budget be approved for the 2026 2027 schoolboard year
060uh with state aid figures and the secretary to the board of education be authorized to submit to the executive county superintendent for approval in accordance with NJSA187F-5 and 18A7F-6. The general fund is 47,394,412. the special revenue fund 3 333,498 with a total of 47,727,910. Be it resolved that the that there should be raised for tax for the general funds of 41,61-272 for the ensuing school year 2026 to 2027 and to advertise said tenative budget in the daily record in accordance with the form suggested by the New Jersey Department of Education in accordance to law and a public hearing on the budget for the 2026 2027 school year will be held at 1 St. Mary's place on April 27th, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. Uh be resolved that the board of education include the tenative budget that
061adjustment for increased costs of health benefits in the amount of 1,953,228 the additional funds will be used to pay for the additional increases in health benefits premiums. be resolved that the board of education includes in the tenative budget a separate proposal question in the amount of $700,250 approved by the voters during the general election on November 4th, 2025. The proposal question is for construction costs necessary to renovate the second floor of Riverview Annex to approve the four existing classrooms, common areas, bathrooms, and storage areas for the employment of additional certified and non-certified personnel and for the continued maintenance of the Riverview Annex. The approved proposal question represents a permanent increase in the tax levy of 1.83% and was adopted by a roll call majority vote of the full board a little bit more. Stick with
062me. Be resolved. The general fund appropriations include a $300,000 withdrawal from the emergency reserve account for the 2025 20226 to supplement the increase in health benefit cost and be resolved that the general fund appropriations budget line 620 is a withdrawal from capital reserves. Other capital reserves in the amount of 945,000 to assist with the various schoolwide projects as listed below. These improvements and upgrades will be completed by the end of the fiscal school year as stated in the table within the agenda. be be resolved that as per NJAC6A23A-14.2, the general fund appropriations include a 319,000 withdrawal from the maintenance reserve account for use on required maintenance activities for a school facility as reported in the comprehensive maintenance plan pursuant to NJAC 6A26-20.5. These improvements and upgrades will be completed by the end of fiscal year
0632026 2027 as stated in the table in the agenda. Whereas the demo board of education recognized school staff and board members will incur travel expenses related to and within the scope of their current responsibilities and for travel that promotes the delivery of instruction or furthers the efficient operation of the school district. And whereas NJAC6A23A subchapter 7 requires board members to receive approval of these expenses by a majority of the full voting membership of the board and staff members to receive prior appro approval of these expenses by the superintendent of school and a majority of the full voting members of the board. And whereas a board of education may establish for regular district business travel only an annual schoolyear threshold of $150 per event where prior board approval should not be required unless this event threshold
064for a school staff member is exceeded during July 1st through Jul J June 30th and travel and related expenses not in compliance with NJAC sub chapter 7 but deemed by the board of education to be necessary and unavoidable as noted on the approved board of education out of district travel and reimbursement forms. Be it resolved that the board approve all travel non-compliance and be it resolved that the board include the tenative budget travel and related expenses reimbursement to maximum expend expenditure of $93,000500 for all staff and board members for the 2026 2020 school year. The maximum travel expenditure for 2026 2025 2026 school year is 76,348 of which 31,724 has been spent. Um the school business administrator board secretary shall track and record these costs and then be it resolved approve a maximum annual expenditure
065for professional services in accordance with NJAC6A23A-5.2 uh in parenthesis 1 auditor 37,900 attorney 65,000 and architect 10,000. I'll second roll call. >> Dr. Murray, if I may, >> um I I want to uh first um echo what Dino said earlier and thank the administration for their hard work in putting together these numbers. uh that award that um that finance award uh is definitely testament to all the hard work that they do. Uh one of the biggest grievances that I c that I have while I'm sitting here is uh literally causing me chest pains and that's the health care costs. Uh I am I am a pharmacist and I see how these prescriptions for like for example GLP1s are being taken and I'm not I'm not suggesting that that's um that's an issue with our our
066staff or our um our district but I think it's just a global or more national type of challenge that uh that that our society is dealing with and that's just the cost of healthcare um you know something that is cosmetic um and being given to uh individuals who may not medically need it. Um I I do believe that being healthier does include, you know, maybe uh being also more fit or or um no longer obese. But at the same time, uh, it the government or even Trenton has to figure out ways to try to help mitigate the cost of healthcare because it is trickling down to the taxpayer. I mean, this this 7% tax levy is to me one of the most unrealistic numbers and this is just going to compound. Um, I feel like
067we need to figure out a way and I think advocacy is one way, but I think this, you know, um, our health care system is broken and we need to figure out ways to try to fix this as a collective society. So, um, thank you. Thank you for that opportunity. >> Thank you, Mr. Kim. >> Anyone else? Roll call. >> Miss Ellis. >> Yes. Miss Asterino. >> Yes. >> Mr. Cass. >> Yes. >> Mr. Capello. >> Yes. >> Excuse me. Yes. >> Mr. Kim. >> Yes. >> Dr. Moore. >> Yes. Uh, next item is operations. Mr. Cass, can you take us through those? >> Under operations, we have two items. First one is transportation. I'm asking the board to approve the joint transportation agreement with the educational services commission of Morris County for the 2026
0682027 school year. Item two is building and grounds that the board approved the attached revised use of facilities form reference CC3 FC3. Second >> roll call. >> Mr. Delos, >> yes. >> Miss Asterino, >> yes. >> Mr. Cass, >> yes. >> Mr. Capello, >> yes. >> Mr. Kim, >> yes. >> Dr. Moore, >> yes. Under new business, no action to be taken. We have uh personnel. Mr. Capello, can you take us through that? >> Uh, sure. I'd be happy to. Uh so um I or someone else at the next meeting will be moving items under personnel which currently consists of one and two. Uh one contains uh cash out vacation days for a staff member. Uh provision for conducting spring afterchool enrichment classes um and uh providing mental health parent training at the CPAC community
069resource fair at Riverview School. And number two is a approving employee a leave of absence under the FMLA act. Okay. Under uh instruction and program, Mrs. Eststerino, can you take us through that? >> Sure. Uh approve the following resolutions for workshops and expenses, but there's nothing currently listed. So we All right. And governance, Mr. Kim. >> Under governance, I or someone else will move to approve the list of policies and regulations that are listed uh for second reading and adoption. >> Okay. And for uh finance, um Mrs. Sidellis again. >> Sure. At the next meeting, myself or someone else will go through uh the resolutions stated here on finance. The board to approve a non-resident tuition agreement, the board to accept a donation from the parents of the players for the um undefeated basketball team
070this year, and the board to uh discuss the summer exploration's fee structure. Okay. And under operations, Mr. Cass, the next meeting, two items. Again, I'm going to ask the board to approve the attached list of field trips for the 2627 school year utilizing the district school buses transport students for learner limited LLC at an hourly rate of $85 an hour. Under building and grounds, I'm asking the board to approve the following building facilities usage for the summer of 2026. We have the pro sports experience football camp at Riverview, Denver recreation summer camp at Valley View, demo schools ESY program, date TBA, and the same thing with the demo schools enrichment program, TBA. >> Um, I I had a quick question which is actually this just brought something up. Um, we used to approve the uh
071YMCA kids club every year for you know they is okay because I don't remember I don't remember in the recent past unless I missed it. >> Yeah. >> When did we do that? >> Wait, where? Oh. >> Oh, did I literally miss it on today's agenda? >> Oh, okay then. I really wasn't paying attention. All right. Well, thank you. >> What? Where? Where? >> Here. Look >> where where the heck is it? >> Okay. >> And and it's and it's the it's as expiring. Is there any any changes? >> Right. But the provisions of the contract are they basic are they the same? We didn't renegotiate anything. Okay. Okay, got it. All right, thank you. Next time we'll pay closer attention. >> All right, next we have uh go to the cause. Uh this is
072an opportunity for anyone uh in their committees to to discuss anything that's relevant. Go ahead, Mr. Kim. >> Uh thank you, Dr. Moore. Really quickly before I begin, I wanted to uh first commend uh Mrs. McCauley and the prek class. I I saw that uh that news article of the of getting Valentine's Day cards from 50 states. Dr. Cullish, you mentioned that uh during the last meeting and just to see that uh notorized in the public that was fantastic. Um also congratulations to you uh as well as your team uh Dr. Cullis forgetting that top 10% to top 13% level uh as reported by US News and report. Um that is a testament to all the hard work that you and your team have done over the past years to get our our academic scores
073up and to be recognized for that achievement. That's truly remarkable. So thank you for that. Um I have been part of the legislative committee at Morris County School Boards and we are looking to advocate a number of things. Um we haven't uh so there is a new HIV reform bill that we will be pushing. Uh so in concurrence with uh all the hard work that uh Dr. Moore, Dr. Cullis and the rest of the team have been doing. Uh I'm I'm curious to see how this new bill might coincide or um overlap with the work that we're doing here in the district. Um we will also be talking to some legislators about the state funding. Um it's it's a little difficult because the committee itself is split. uh where um some board members were on
074the other side of uh S2 whereas we were on um our side of the S2 funding. So that's uh as Dr. Forte mentioned that is sort of a delicate balance to sort of figure out but I'm curious to see what uh Mr. Gopal and uh the committee is working towards with regards to S2. I don't know if anyone here has heard what uh his goals are there, but uh uh we'll definitely be discussing it with some of the legislators. And one thing that came up as well was virtual instruction. Um it has come to my attention that virtual instruction can only be utilized in case of emergencies and that includes you know uh statewide closures or anything like that. But that does not include if a school an individual school building had to be shut
075down because of water mane breaks or anything like that and they could not use virtual instruction for that school only for that circumstance. And uh that was kind of uh surprising to me. I thought that was something that we could use. Um, but there were some districts that were reporting that their children could not uh have the last day of school buildings because that one school building had to be closed for a week because of uh um some sort of um building work that had to be done like maybe uh water main breaks or something like that. So, uh so that's something that we're going to bring up to the legislature as well. So, uh, if there's anything that this board would like to, um, for me to include, then please let me know. Um,
076we did miss the deadline for, uh, the delegate assembly and any kind of resolutions uh, with regards to that. So um my hope is that for the next delegate assembly we as a committee will notify the rest of the board uh um you know months in advance um so that we're not uh pressed for time. So uh that sort of ends my report. Thank you. >> The um the current that current bail is it only allows you to do it on the fourth day. So the schools have to be closed for three days. On the fourth day you can petition and ask for it. Yes, you can petition, but it uh it's not guaranteed. And um that I think a lot of districts are finding that uh yeah, because of that, they're now forced to
077uh extend their days more than maybe the rest of the school district or there were some other schools that had to do like a series of half days to try to make it up or something like that. So >> remember we we had it a few years back with Lake View closed. They had to do an extra day. Remember that? the other two schools closed and then Lake View closed and there was an expense to that because we the bus drivers still worked those days so we had to bring them back so it wasn't completely free. >> Yeah. So if there's a way that we could do virtual for that one uh school, right? So in case they're closed. So yeah, that's something that uh we're hoping to bring up. >> I mean that seemed
078like a perfect example because it was a lo a centrally localized power failure, meaning it wasn't that neighborhood, it was the school. So, like if it was the neighborhood, I could see you probably can't do it, right? Because now the kids can't get on anyway. But when it's just the school, that makes just a lot of sense. But what we found out, if it makes sense, doesn't usually fly. >> Um, I was just going to say to both uh Lake View and Riverview, congratulations on their successful tricky trays this week. Uh, Lake View had theirs on Thursday night, I believe, and Riverview was last Saturday. So, from what I've gathered, they were both really wellrun and really fun, very successful. So, good for those PTAs. And last but not least, I know we've been talking
079about the um the no screens initiative. If anybody's interested in attending Riverview's next recess after dark, it's April 18th, which is a Friday, and it will start at 6 p.m. There's uh no one else with any comments then we'll move on to uh board meeting highlights. >> Dr. Forte any highlights? >> I would say the budget is probably a big one. Um the US News Royal report and the donations. What do you think? All right. Okay, then we'll uh open up to comments. Again, this portion of the meeting is open to any individuals for the purpose of addressing resolutions on this agenda or matters that they find is important to the board of education and is governed by board policy 0167. And we'll open that at 8:47. And seeing that no one's online and no
080one's here, we will close that at 8:47 as well. And there's no need for executive session. So >> motion to adjurnn. >> Yay. >> Yes. >> Okay. I second. >> Yeah. >> Thank you.