001Good evening everyone. Please stand stand for the flag salute. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stand indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Please be seated. In accordance with the Open Public Meeting Act, NJSA 10 col4-6, adequate notification of this meeting has been provided by advertising in the record and posting notice in the board of education administration building and filing notice with the city clerk. I hereby I hereby call to order the special public meeting on Tuesday, June 24th, 2025 in the Hackinack High School Media Center, 135 1st Street, Hackinasak, New Jersey, 07601 at 6:01 p.m. 6:01 p.m. Miss Aastra, can you please do a roll call? Miss Alustin Balaputra, present. Miss Amaramsa, present. Mr. Carol, present. Miss Gilmore, here. Mr. Martin here.
002Miss Fringle present. Miss Harris present. Mr. Stein here. We have a forum. Perfect. Okay, we're going to go straight to public comments. Public participation shall be governed by the following rules. One, if in person, a participant must sign the sign-in sheet and be recognized by the presiding officer and must preface comments by an announcement of his or her name, municipality of residence, and group affiliation if applicable. Two, each statement made by a participant shall be limited to three minutes duration during the public session. Three, all statements, questions or inquiries shall be re shall be directed to the presiding officer and any questions or inquiries directed by a participant to another board member shall be redirected to the presiding officer who shall determine if such statement, question or inquiry shall be addressed by the presiding officer
003on behalf of the board or by the individual board member. And four, all board and/or acting superintendent responses to questions or inquiries shall be held until the end of public participation. At this time, public comments is now open. There's anybody in the public that would like to speak. Good afternoon. Uh my name is Andrew Miam and I live in Hackinack. So, I wanted to continue my conversation with the board regarding a few things that uh that I've noticed observed as a former board member. So, one of those things is there were flyers posted with the superintendent of schools endorsing candidates, political candidates that were Democrats, um as well as board members that were using their titles, President Murray Harris and a few others. I'm not going to name everyone, but the president definitely should not
004be using the title to endorse political candidates. If you'd like a copy of it, I'm more than happy to send it to you. But clearly, the school ethics commission has stated you are not permitted to endorse any political candidates for your own financial gain and political aspirations potentially. So, Cassin Gaines, who's an English teacher, who is also the president of the teachers union, who potentially may become the mayor elect, is a potential conflict of interest. So, if the board supports him, then how do you negotiate a fair contract where there's supposed to be a check and balance of power? One of your uh uh major responsibility is to make sure that the board and the school district is run well. How are you going to do that? And if I offended anyone regarding your family
005ties to the school district for over I think 30 years, uh, Superintendent Parchment, um, I would think that you would do the right thing because we're trying to teach our kids to do the right thing even when people are not looking. Well, I don't know about you, I know that a couple of you are educators on the board. So I know that when I do things I try to make sure that all of the things and my actions is speaks to the values that I hold true and I would hope that the board would reconsider doing something to uh the former President James Vickers. He had every right to speak out to what was happening to him and his family. Putting a face of a bullseye, that's not appropriate at all. So, if you do
006something, I'm telling you, I think that he has a very strong case because all of you, some of you know him. You served with him and he's a good man. This um and he does not need to be treated this way. and you worked with him over the years. And just really quick, I just want to thank um board member Demetrius for being very honest on his financial disclosure. Your time is up. Yes, sir. Thank you. Is there anybody else in the public? Is there anybody online? Okay, let's go with it. Good afternoon, Kasim Gaines. Speaking today unfortunately because um once again Mr. Mi speaks without knowing very much about what he speaks about. I just want to point out for the public a few things. Number one, as Mr. Mihan did acknowledge I am
007an employee of the Hackinac public schools and my understanding is that there is a policy wherein if people stand at that microphone and speak ill of employees of the Hackinake public schools by name that that is not allowable that that is in violation and that those individuals should or could be barred from speaking further at subsequent public meetings for being in violation of that policy. That is number one. Number two, I do also want to acknowledge for the public the double standard that Mr. Mihan seems to have no problem with wherein elected officials throughout the city of Hackinac have endorsed board of education candidates for the last 5 years sending out municipal flyers using their title as elected officials in the city of Hackinack, including the individual that Mr. Mi is speaking in defense of
008today who was endorsed by the current mayor of Hackinack. And I'm not saying that to say that there's a problem with it. I'm just saying I have a problem with the double standard that seems to be put forth by Mr. Mihan. I also want to acknowledge the um support of the school community which I think any school community should have for any one of its educators who are running to serve this community. We have a very long history of people who are employees of the Hackinack public school who have served the community in various capacities. Whether it be through community organizations, whether it be formerly as deputy mayor of Hackinack, as council people in Hackinack. Um, and I'm not going that far back in our city's history. To say that there is a problem or
009a conflict with the school system being supportive of its staff, I think speaks something to the previous culture of this school district. Um, and I appreciate an effort to try and actually show the staff that there is some level of support, not just for me, but um, one of the things that I advocate for as president of the association is that the school board should be showing all of its staff, all of it, um, respect and support regardless of whatever affiliations perceived or real. Thank you very much. Anyone else online? Okay. At this time, public session is now closed. Be it resolved that the Hackasak Board of Education determs it necessary to meet in executive session on Tuesday, June 24th, 2025 to discuss personnel matters and pending or anticipated contract negotiations. Be it further resolved
010that these matters will be made public when the need for confidentiality no longer exists. Can I have a motion, please? So move. I'll second. Motion by Trustee Stein, second by Trustee Amrazza. All those in favor say I. I. Anyone opposed? Okay, just so that the public is aware, we will be back um out to vote on a few agenda items. Um we will notify the public when we're getting closer to to to come out. I don't want to give a time yet. Okay. Thank you. here. The gangs are here. All right. Uh, can I have a motion to reopen to the public session, please? Motion. Motion by Trustee Pringle, second by Trustee Carol. Miss Agastra, can you please do a roll call? Miss Alustin Balaputra, present. Miss Emmerza, present. Mr. Carroll, present. Miss Gilmore, here.
011Mr. Martin, present. Miss Pringle, present. Miss Harris, yes. Mr. Stein, yes. Uh, I'm sorry, just to be clear, were you taking the attendance or were you taking the the vote on the motion? Goend. Oh, yes. You all said present, not yes. Yeah. Oh, so so she was like an attorney. Someone could say present just means I'm here but I'm not voting. Oh, can we can we just do the roll call again with a a yes or no or abstain? Okay, thank you. Miss Olston Valiputra, yes. Miss Emmerza, yes. Mr. Carl, yes. Miss Gilmore, yes. Mr. Martin, yes. Miss Pringle, yes. Miss Harris, yes. Mr. Stein, yes. for the second time. We have a the motion passes. Thank you. Okay. So, now we are open to the public. Um it is 802. Okay. So, we're going
012to start off with our agenda page two line uh item number five. Um I would like to make a motion uh for agenda item uh Roman numeral 5 RFP25-06 independent investigation. Whereas bids were solicited and opened by the Hackinack Board of Education on June 12th, 2025 at 10 a.m. for the independent investigation as to the usage of Hackinac High School by the former Board of Education's president on December 18th, 2024 to determine if any New Jersey laws and/or internal policies and/or regulations were violated. Uh now therefore be it resolved that the Hackinac Board of Education upon the recommendation of the acting superintendent of schools and school business administrator/board secretary approves to award the contract to the law offices of John McCann for legal services in the amount of $180 per hour for attorneys and $155
013per hour for parallegal services paid from uh account number that is here uh for the 2025 2026 school year. Okay, thank you. So, we have a motion from Trusty Emmer Hemsa. Can I have a second? Second. Second by Trustee Carol. Miss Aashra, can you please do a roll call? Miss Olston Baliputra, yes. Miss Amrahamza, yes. Mr. Carl, yes. Miss Gilmore, yes. Mr. Martin, yes. Miss Pringle, yes. Miss Harris, yes. Mr. Stein, yes. Motion passes. Thank you very much. Uh line item number six, Mr. Trusty Ammer Hemsa. Um I would I'd like to make a a motion to offer for consideration of Roman numeral six. Uh be it resolved that the Hackinack Board of Education upon the recommendation of the acting superintendent of schools approves to resend the appointment of Jenia Buddha Howell on May 14th,
0142025 regular meeting as the affirmative action officer for the 2025 2026 school year. Okay. Thank you, Trusty Amraza. We have a motion. Can I have a second? Second. Okay. We have a second by Trustee Gilmore. Miss Agostra, can you please do a roll call? Miss Olston Balaputra. Yes. Miss Ammerzo? Yes. Mr. Carol? Yes. Miss Gilmore? Yes. Mr. Martin? Yes. Miss Pringle? Yes. Miss Harris? Yes. Mr. Stein? Yes. Motion passes. Yes. On to page three of our agenda. Line item seven. Trusty Pringle. I would like to make a motion for line item well, I'm sorry, for agenda item seven. Um, be it resolved that the Hackasack Board of Education upon the recommendation of the acting superintendent of schools designates Rosemary Marks, Assistant Superintendent as affirmative action officer for the school year 2526. Okay. Thank you, Trusty
015Pringle. That was a motion for Trusty Pringle. Can I have a second? I'll second. Second by Trustee Stein. Miss Aostra, roll call, please. Miss Alustin Balaputra, yes. Miss Emraheimsa, yes. Mr. Carl, yes. Miss Gilmore, yes. Mr. Martin, yes. Miss Pringle, yes. Miss Harris, yes. Mr. Stein, yes. Motion passes. Okay. Thank you. Um, moving on to line item number eight. Trusty Stein. Vice President Stein. Yes. Uh, I'd like to make a motion for uh item Roman numeral item eight. uh to approve uh the hiring of voter R HR solutions uh in the human services consultation for Hackinac public schools at a rate of $275 per hour not to exceed 140 hours for a total of $38,500. $100. Okay. Excellent. So, we have a motion from trustee Stein. Can I have a second, please? Oh, second by
016Trustee Martin. Miss Aashra, roll call, please. Miss Olston Balaputra, abstain. Miss Emra Hamza? Yes. Mr. Carol? Yes. Miss Gilmore? Yes. Mr. Martin? Yes. Miss Pringle? Yes. Miss Harris? Yes. Mr. Stein. Yes. Motion passes. Okay. Excellent. Uh line item number nine. Trusty Gilmore. Okay. I'd like to bring um for consideration uh agenda item nine. Be it resolved upon the recommendation of the acting superintending of schools, the Hackasac board of education approves to award the contract to Kelly Services Incorporated from exhibit A MP-esy- paraprofessional for a bill rate of $311 per hour to provide extended schoolyear paraprofessional services and job coach bill rate for $40.96 per hour for the 202526 school year. Okay. Thank you, Trusty Gilmore. So, that was a motion from Trusty Gilmore. Uh, can I have a second, please? A second. Second by Trustee
017Pringle. Miss Aashra, roll call, please. Miss Olston Valiputra, yes. Miss Emmerza, yes. Mr. Carol, I recuse myself. Miss Gilmore, yes. Mr. Martin, yes. Miss Pringle, yes. Miss Harris, yes. Mr. Stein, yes. Motion passes. Okay. Thank you very much. All right. And we just have just what a clarification from our board attorneys. Yeah. I meant to say it earlier when before uh after trustee Amir Hamzada uh moved uh agenda five five. um it wasn't on the pre-printed agenda that may have been disseminated to the public because of the timeliness of when the RFP responses came in. Um a resolution couldn't be prepared at that time to put it on the agenda which is why the board president had asked uh trustee inirzada to read it in case who was here or listening knew what the resolution
018was for and it will of course be in the meeting minutes in case the public wants to go back and look at look at it. Okay. Thank you very much. All right. So, at this time, can I have a motion to adjurnn our meeting? I'll move it. Okay. Motion by Trustee Stein. Can I have a second? Second. Second by Trustee Pringle. All those in favor say I. I. Anyone opposed? Hey, get home safe, everyone. Have a good night. It's 8:09.