Monroe Township Board of Education 01.21.26 Regular Meeting

001Chief >> maybe >> like to call the meeting to order at 6:15. This is the January 21st Monroe Township Board of Education meeting 2026. Miss Allen, could you take a U call to pledge of allegiance first? >> Pledge allegiance to the flag of United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Now we can have a roll call. >> Yes. >> Okay. Um, Miss Alvarez >> here, Miss Depay >> here, >> Miss Forest >> here, >> Mr. Marazine >> here, >> Dr. Peek >> here, >> Mr. Piro >> here, >> Miss Ratner >> here, >> Miss Chararma >> here, >> Mr. Mr. Chano, >> here. >> Mr. Zikner, >> yes. >> We have a quorum. In accordance with the provisions

002of the New Jersey Open Public Meetings Law, the Monroe Township Board of Education has caused notice of this meeting to be published and electronic notice provided by having the date, time, and place thereof posted January 14th, 2026 at all schools on the district website, Home News Tribune, Cranberry Press, and filed with the clerk of the municipality. >> Thank you, Mr. Allen. >> You're welcome. >> Close session resolution. Whereas the Senator Byron M. Byer Open Public Meetings Act and JSA 10 col4-6 ETSE the act provides that the Monroe Township Board of Education may hold an executive session from which the public is excluded to discuss matters that are confidential or are one of the nine subject matters listed section 12B of the act. and whereas that the board hereby declares that its discussion of the following

003subjects will be made public at a time when the public's interest in disclosure is greater than any privacy or governmental interest being protected from disclosure. Now therefore be it resolved by the Monroe Township, excuse me, Board of Education that the board shall go into executive session to discuss the following items. Additional items may be determined and announced as needed. One, matters involving employees in terms of their employment and contract. And two, HIV investigation involving students. Be it further resolved that said discussion may be disclosed to the public when reasons for discussing and acting upon it in close session no longer ex exists. Excuse me. Action may be taken on any of the items stated above. >> Motion second. >> All those in favor? >> I thank you. >> We'll be going into close session for

004an hour and be out by 7:15. >> Can we do >> Okay. Thank you for your patience. We're back. We're back from our executive session. Um, we will now go to number six on the agenda, approval of minutes, unless there's anything else. >> I'll make a motion to >> Yes, I I was just asking him something. So, thank you. Um, first one is a public board of education meeting December 10, 2025. Do I have a motion? >> Second. All those in favor? >> I >> opposed. >> Abstain. Okay. Thank you. Close session meeting December 10th, 2025. Is there a motion? >> Motion. >> Second. >> All those in favor? I >> opposed. Abstain. >> Abstain. >> Thank you. >> Board public board of education organization meeting January 5th, 2026. Is there a motion? >> Second.

005>> All those in favor? I. >> All those opposed? abstain. Thank you all very much. >> And we're here welcoming our student members this evening for their very very wonderful all the information they give us from our district. We're very appreciative of what you do. >> Thank you. And so today we're going to be starting off with Barkley Brook Elementary School. And so the day before winter break was a festive one at Barkley Brook School. Students and staff were invited to wear their favorite pajamas and the school gathered together in the gymnasium for our annual holiday singalong. Students shared simple musical instruments and sang along with f the fa with favorite holiday and seasonal songs that were projected on the screen. Students even danced along with some songs and the festive mood was palpable. It

006was the perfect way to begin winter break. The first graders at Barkley Brook School learned about holidays around the world in December and culminated with a Polar Express Day on December 19th. Each Barkley Brook first grader received a ticket to board the Polar Express. The Polar Express conductor greeted the students aboard as they paraded down the hallways with bells caroling around them. The students arrived at their North Pole destination, the Barkley Brook Cafe, and viewed the Polar Express movie while enjoying a snack. >> Yeah. Now, moving on to the Brookside School. They had a classroom spelling be that took place on January 13th. They will also have a schoolwide spelling be that will occur on January 27th. The students are continuing to do a great job meeting their expectations. The students earned enough feathers to

007receive a schoolwide pajama day on Jan 9th. Marking period 2 ends on February 4th and fifth graders on Feb 3rd. The Brookside Student Council is doing a super uh Super Bowl can collection from Jan 19th to February 6th. And now we'll move on to Mil Lake Elementary School. Mil Lake recently enjoyed an awesome winter wonderland spirit week. Thoughtfully crafted by the third grade student council. Spirit week is more than just fun outfits. It builds school pride, strengthens the sense of community in the school, and gives students a voice in shaping a positive school culture. On January 13th, Mil Lake proudly welcomed students to an exciting unified gym day that brought together the special education students, their peer pals, and the high school unified volunteers for a morning full of energy and smiles. They're also excited

008to announce the macaroni and cheese donation drive inspired by the success of last year's cereal box Domino challenge. Their goal is to collect boxes of macaroni and cheese to create a fun domino challenge display before donating all of the items to the local food pantry in veterans in Monroe Township, New Jersey. The end of January and early February are shaping up to be an busy and exciting time at Mil Lake. Highlights include the parent teacher conferences from February 18th to the 20th, Mil Lake dental visits, the Woodland Mil PTO book fair from February 3rd to the 5th, and the 100th day of school celebration. Lastly, Mil Lake is excited to kick off their kids heart challenge in February. Students will stay active, learn about heart health, and give back by supporting the American Heart Association.

009Families are invited to join them in promoting healthy hearts and strong habits. More details will be coming soon. >> Now, moving on to the Woodland School. They are excited to invite members of our professional community to participate in the guest readers during ReadAcross America Week at their school. ReadAcross America Week is a nationwide celebration of reading and they believe that welcoming guest readers will inspire our students and reinforce the importance of literacy. Guest readers will spend approximately 20 minutes reading to a fourth or fifth grade class. They kindly invite the board of education to join them on March 3rd or March 5th. >> And moving on to Oak Tree Elementary School. On January 26th, the Kids Heart Challenge will also kick off there with an assembly, a fundraiser for the American Heart Association, and celebrations

010are scheduled for February 13th at the Falcon Fest pep rally. On January 29th, Oak Tree Schoolwide Olympics, the entire where the entire school participates in planned activities throughout the day, including opening ceremonies with a parade of countries and closing ceremonies where every student receives a gold medal. And February is dental health month, which means scheduled dental visits for all grades throughout the month, accompanied by from February 18th to the 19th parent teacher conferences. Now moving on to Applegarth. They have started their afterchool chess classes on Thursday afternoons in collaboration with the Knight School of Princeton. There will be an opening session for public speaking in Feb as an afterchool program led by high school student and former art apple student Siman Singh. High school and former Appleguard students Anvi and R of Kumar have launched

011a website about Monroe Township history and are presenting to the fourth and fifth graders on Tuesday, January 20th. Their wellness and maker space committees are meet meeting this month to plan activities that are back at Applegard school. They have an SEL pep rally coming up on February 9th. Their PTA also recently held a clothing drive as a fundraiser. Their physical education teachers have kicked off their annual kids heart challenge with informational assemblies. Kids heart challenge brings awareness to the issue of heart disease while promoting exercise and fundraisers for a good cause. Former Applegart students led by Natasha Rahman Krishna will be meeting after school for a program designed to discuss ecological issues in the next month. Date is still pending by the way. And now we'll be moving on to our one and only middle

012school. On January 14th, the seventh grade French classes invited the Monroe Township Middle School administration up to hear the wonderful poems and songs they have been working on for the previous few weeks. It was a wonderful performance. On Friday, January 16th, the Monro Township Middle School's Falcon Jazz Ensemble and Gold Jazz Band performed for the residents of Monroe at the Senior Center. The middle school will be holding its annual winter jazz percussion concert on January 22nd at 7 p.m. The percussion band is exceptional and awardw winning. No change, no charge. So come on out and then support these wonderful middle schoolers. On Saturday, January 17th, the the middle school's code zero students had a great day at the K robotics competition in Freehold. Team Anomaly won the VEX award qualifying them for the regional tournament

013in March. This follows the VEX Innovate Award that they won earlier in the season. And now I'm going to apologize for misprononunciations and congratulate the middle school students of the month for December. In sixth grade, Daylor Ergashev. Um, and in seventh grade, Avery Mullen. And finally, in eighth grade, Nicole Mana. At Monro Tancha Middle School, they participate in a Cupid Crew, which is a national nationwide initiative focused on spreading love, kindness, and connection to older adults on Valentine's Day. The program aims to combat loneliness by encouraging meaningful outreach and positive messages from students to members of the senior community. As part of this initiative, the Monroe Township Middle School Student Council will be participating with heart by writing heartfelt me Valentine's messages to older adults within Monroe Township. And congratulations to the 26 middle school

014choir students who were selected to participate in the CJMEA region choir this past weekend. These students auditioned with singers across central New Jersey and will represent Monroe in the final concert in March. And once again, apologies for misprononunciations. A special congratulations to Parisa Ahmed who placed second in the category of soprano 2, Asicia Shendai who placed first in the category soprano 1, and Jason Frederick who placed first in the category of tenor/veritone. >> Now moving on to the one and only Monro Township High School. The Monro Township High School was awarded with the silver AP honor role. We placed silver in college culture, gold in college credit, and platinum in college optimization. Um, so the uh award goes to where we have the least rank. So we had silver, so it went to the silver.

015Unfortunately, let's aim for gold next year, but that's amazing. Jan 23rd and Jan 24th uh at the uh the MTMS drama club is presenting almost love screens, a compilation of shorts, acts about loves. The show starts at 700 p.m. in the Monro Township pack. The Monro Township Future Business Leaders of America chapter will be sending about a hundred of our members that qualified to compete at the state level at SLC. This will be an event that will be taking place in Atlantic City. They will then proceed to compete at the national level if they place top four in their event in San Antonio, Texas. The Monro Township DECA chapter has qualified a few dozen students for SLC, the state conference at Atlantic City. as well. Students will try to qualify for ICDC at the national

016level and that event will be taking place in Georgia. The creation of a new screen touchscreen kiosk which features records set by Monroe Township High School uh former student athletes was also set up and can be used by the student body at any time to see past records. >> Thank you. Thank you both for again for your very detailed information about our schools in our district. Miss Patel, can you just please tell me what tell everybody what you just told me? I just asked if anybody had any early acceptances and go ahead, you say it. >> I was recently accepted to King's College London in >> for law. So proud. Congratulations. >> Thank you again. >> And now, Miss Allen, if you'd like to introduce the gentleman that's going to make our uh next presentation.

017>> Yes. Mr. Stanowitz from um Samuel Klein Company, our auditor. >> Good evening. Uh for the record, my name is Jerry Stanowitz. I'm a CPA PSA, which is public school accounting. I'm a partner in the public accounting firm of Samuel Klein and Company and I am we are the appointed auditors. We're appointed by the board answerable to the board with regards to the annual comprehensive financial report translation. We do the annual audit of the school district's records. The actual report is a combination of a lot of different information okay that uh we obtain during the course of the audit. Now, to give you an idea what we do during the audit, and for the record, I think two weeks ago, we had an exit conference with the superintendent and the business administrator to wrap up

018the report and prior to issuance. Okay. And then I believe last Wednesday night, we had a rather extensive meeting and discussion on the actual audit report itself, uh, as well as the, uh, the AMR, which I'll get into. Okay. So basically our audit kind of starts in the middle of the summer. We come in and we audit and then look at the student activity funds so that when school gets restarted the kids and the students will be able to have their activity records back for the various activities that they generate. I want to caution the student activity funds is such a tiny tiny piece of the overall financial structure here that we we presume that it's audited before we it gets to us because it's really not the biggest part of the audit. Although I

019will say your high school has a lot of money in my world a lot of money going through the accounts. So it needs to be looked at before we get it. If if we find something that your people don't then it's a whole different issue. Okay? because it's supposed to be set up that the system whether it be the student activities or your main business account is um is set up so that it can catch an error before it gets out like to us. Okay. Or to someone else if there's a boo boo you find it you fix it you move on. We we have had good results over the years here with regards to find no findings. Okay. But we'll get into that later. So we start with the student activity funds and then

020we come in and we run samples and we do random samples. Okay. And it's very simple. We get the first check number of the year, the last check number of the year and we run a random sample through a random number generator and that's what we audit. We can't audit uh we we don't audit a focus sample or what's called a halfhazard sample. We can't just pick and choose although we do other little things throughout the year but our main main part of our audit is statistical based. Okay. that goes for payroll and it goes for expenditures. So, we'll we'll pull a sample. And by the way, you uh in we work down in the basement next right next to the payroll office. The biggest part of your um of your financial function here is

021is the payroll. Okay. So, we do spend a good deal of time there. Um the the payroll department has in historically been set up with real good audit uh with a real good audit trail as well as we've always had successful results in there. Uh and and it's because it's been set up properly going back 30 years or whatever. So, the payroll department is is functioning well and I believe it's it's well staffed and the woman who took over for Matthew, rest in peace, um had worked there before and uh when she we heard she was coming back, we we felt comfortable about the audit and that it would not be a problem. If we didn't know this person or they did not have a lot of payroll experience, it would be it would be

022a different type of an audit. It would rise up to a level of maybe maybe a little higher risk, but we didn't have that problem. So we go through the procedures in the payroll department. Most importantly, we verify that um people were paid in accordance with collective bargaining agreements in accordance with board authorization uh or any other contract that that exists. So and that that involved a lot of work on the base pays. We also check uh extra pay uh cafeteria coverage, classroom coverage, um activities, student activities, sports coverage, all all of those different items. We make sure again we select a sample. We we pick that sample and we we focus on those people. Okay. And um we had again good results from that. Okay. We also verified things like for example is there

023an I9 on file? Is there a direct deposit authorization on file? Is there a W4 on file? Are there peerspaf records on file? Okay. That and that system here has evolved >> to to a pretty high level of performance. So my my people have good good results from that also too every pay there's extra pay for example uh overtime part-time those records are very well kept okay so and again those come into our sample and one of the things that works best here too is the way they're filed and the way it's set up and makes it easier to audit so we had good results from that we also for the record we do check the payroll of the business administrator and the superintendent and the payroll person, even if it's outside the sample. Okay?

024Any auditor, again, I only know what I do and how I was trained. If if you don't check the those people, then maybe your your your program is a little bit flawed. But we we did check those that information. Um also too, um payroll withholdings, federal income tax, FICA, social security, Medicare, pension, all that, all that. We check that and as soon as it comes into the the payroll banking it's out and it's to the what we call the agencies the government deferred comp uh IRS state pension all that all that stuff is is flushed out quickly it shouldn't sit for long when it sits for long then sometimes if it sits too long you might end up with a penalty but as long as it goes out quickly most especially within 3 days okay

025then it works very well so there was none of that and uh so then also to what we do is okay for the payroll we got good results. We also audit your expenditures, okay? And you know, you have a sizable budget here. Again, we run a random sample. We also supplement that sample with what we call significant items. You know, we'll we'll pick items above a certain dollar level and we'll look at those. We'll also pick items, for example, we do extra work on repair maintenance account that make sure that's proper. We do extra work in the area of uh student, not student, but um I'm sorry, we check your health benefits. We check to see of the people who we sample also too that the health benefits withholding is proper. That that's a big

026thing now and it's been for the past several years. So we're comfortable with that information. And also that leads to um the people who are in the places that actually do the work and and check everything. So we also make sure with regards to expenditures, the four major things and I would say the students who someday you're going to be in a successful position. You need to know this whether it you understand it or not. They need to know all the dispersements are properly documented. They're charged to the correct line item in the budget. Now, you know, with expenditures and finances getting tighter, higher levels of government are looking closely at line items in in budgets in all uh government entities. Thirdly, it's charged to the correct fiscal year. And fourth, the uh public school

027contract law is pretty well excellently complied with here. um available to a lot of government entities in New Jersey now with more and more are these um purchasing co-ops which for example you might have a lead agency like the Edge Services Commission. They'll bid you know I don't know John Deere tractors or pencils. They'll bid it for you. It takes the administrative burden off of your board and you get a a pre-negotiated price. Okay. Not just you know not all the time is the price better but for the most part it is. And that would be up to your administration to double check that. a lot of stuff in computers, anything that a school would need. I think even roofing um just a lot of a lot of things are available. I know one of

028my other districts, they had trailers or mobile uh homes and things like that that it was all under what's called a state contract, which is a buying co-op. So, they were cut off properly. Okay? And and the important thing too here is any bills that were incurred June 30th or prior that weren't paid were properly set up as accounts payable. You can't have um bills char that were relative to the prior year charged to the current year. Again, with people looking closely at line items, they have to be properly stated. Okay. And the biggest area actually is electric. Okay. Everybody's looking at their electric bills. Okay. So, the expenditure testing worked out very nicely. Also, um important, it's technical, uh but the um the bank reconciliations do agree to the general ledger. It's again it's

029technical but you need to know that as a board. If any of you work in a business or sit on any other boards you might want if if you don't ask if the auditor doesn't say it you might want to ask. Okay. Um so in the end we ended up with very good results. We also also do a uh a pretty in-depth check on your uh attendance register. There is an enrollment count that's due on October 15th of every year. >> We audit that. We've had successful results uh in the past couple years with those counts. Um again, it has a lot to do with your people. U they do a good job. We check the October 15th payroll, not payroll, October 15th attendance register to make sure that um that that whatever is reported

030to the state government is proper. Okay. We also as part of that check the free and reduced applications. Okay. Because there's a lot of a lot of things fall into place when this stuff gets filed. Okay. um free reduced total attendance and also to your special ed uh students. We checked the IEPs and in fact I think we checked all of them this year um on file. There's a person there. I think her name is Jean. They do a very good job uh of making sure that everything is lined up and in place. And we don't we check to see that there's a classification. We don't look at what the classification is. That's not our job. Okay? we're not qualified to determine whether a kid is a certain class. We just want to see that

031there's a classification. So, that all worked out very nicely. Um, your revenues, the biggest part of your revenues is tax levy. That's easily auditable. Um, but in the end, because of our successful results, we we end up with what's called an unmodified opinion. In the old days, it was a clean opinion, okay? Or unqualified. So, it's an unmodified opinion that we give you, okay? Had there been not an unmodified opinion, we would have probably been here a lot sooner because there's there's ramifications to a school district where you get a modified opinion. For example, probably a state monitor is there the next day. You don't have that problem. Your records are properly maintained. So, in the end, we have no recommendations. Okay? And a clean opinion. Now, there's two documents that we issue. The thicker

032of the two is the ACT annual comprehensive financial report which is sort of a joint venture between us and the business office. All the information in here is really derived from the district andor the municipality information relative to demographics of Monroe. Number of people, income, tax rate, tax levies, um all kinds of economic data that's in here that because you have bonds that are in circulation out there is relevant to people evaluating the district. when you go for a new issue, which you did last year for the EIP uh bonds, it it was looked at, it was evaluated, they they do look at it, okay? Meaning the rating agencies, okay? So, and I think you got a very favorable rating as a result of that. So, in in also in this document, I want to

033point out a couple things and I know was it emailed? >> I don't recall did we did we >> uh it was printed. >> Did we drop off hard copies or was it emailed? >> Okay. I I don't remember. Um on sheet 36 is your food service. Actually it's your enterprise fund operation which has three functions. Um one is falcon care and the other one is early childhood. Those are two services that you provide. They're accounted for through what's called the enterprise fund because enterprise fund denotes business. They could otherwise be done by a private business. The biggest operation you have is your food service operation. Okay? That's a $3 million enterprise. That's nothing small and it's it's properly maintained. Um, and it's properly overseen by district personnel. Um, but we do look at the

034food service agency's records on a small sample basis. We make sure that their time sheets are proper. We don't care what they pay their people, but we make sure if they're reporting someone worked 20 hours that the time sheet shows 20 hours. We do look at their food bills. We make sure that for example you get charged for Monroe of Middle Sex not Monroe of Gloucester. Little things like that that we just check for. And also they too are supposed to have an internal control report on file with the district and they do. It's about 200 pages of just information about how they operate. So you have a good sizable operation uh for your food service fund. your main operating fund and it is on sheet 102 of the document which called your general fund.

035That's where your most of your revenues your grants go through the special revenue fund and you don't get a lot of grants here. Okay? You get title one money, you get idea money, but other than that you don't get a lot like other districts do. But your main operating fund which has revenue of aboutund and let's just say 40 million. Let me see. Let me get to that page. Mistletoe. >> Not yet. Not yet. Okay. >> Close to it, sir. >> Okay. So, your revenues are $169 million. Now, that's not what actually goes through the records. That includes about let's say about $33 million of on behalf payments that are for the TPAF for the teachers pension and teachers medical. Okay, that ret for retirees. We're required to show that. Okay, it's paid on behalf

036of the district by the treasury by the department of ed to the treasury department. We have to show it because the government wants to see what it really costs to run the district. What goes through your records is not really a true representative. When you add on this $33 million, it shows you that you're you're running a at least $169 million operation even though your budget may be 1351 140. Okay? And same with your expenditures. If we show the revenue, we have to show the expense because you don't really profit from it. Okay? So, as we was we flow through the document, by the way, there were no over expenditures. Okay? Uh just to point that out to you. Um, you started the year with 9.6 million and you ended the year with 13.1 million.

037Now, that sounds like a lot of money, but caution. Most of it spoken for, okay? And I'll give you the breakdown. It's on page 102. 115,000 is unemployment reserve for unemployment claims. Incumbrances are 136,000. Those are purchase orders that were committed that had not been filled nor paid for before year end. Excess surplus designated for the 2526 year which we're in which was a result of the 2425 school year is 2.9 million. That money when you when you opened your budget on July 1 of 204 uh no yeah 25 for the 20 it's gone. Okay. So it's spoken for. It's used to balance your budget. Um I'll skip around one second. You have a capital reserve of 23,000. Okay. and your your uh what's called your unassigned which is the limit that you're allowed to

038keep okay up to the formulas that's that kick in because everything's a formula okay is 3.1 million as a result of your operations for 242 you generated excess surplus of 6.7 million now again it's not necessarily free and clear because the second that Laura and the team strike the 2627 budget it's an automatic revenue item okay and how how I know is we have to file an electronic version of this report and we're the only ones that can change the numbers. It it goes right into your 2627 budget. Basically, it's spoken for. So, you know, it 13 million not as high as it used to be, but it's a number that primarily of which is spoken for. And just for the record, our job is not to tell you that we are in great financial

039shape. That's not the purpose of the audit. It's not a corporation, okay? Our purpose is to verify the numbers presented by the management uh of the of the district and to give a report to the board that it the financial statements were fairly presented. Okay. So what happens is in the audit is we we um we're hired to prepare the audit. Management provides us with the documents. We go through our procedures. We give an opinion and like I said the opinion is that the financial statements as presented are unmodified. So, also there's a lot of information contained in this document again about the demographics of the town. There's also a lot of deliriously boring information about pensions and TPAF. There's some scary numbers in there about the TPAF obligation that's attributed to the district. They're

040not your liabilities. They're the state's liabilities. Okay? They pay on your behalf. But again, government wants to know what it really costs to run the district. Well, that information is contained in the notes to financial. We're not required to book it. The state does and is it does book it and they are required, but the the TPAF pension and the PERS and the and the health benefits the other it's called other post-employment. It's pretty pretty big money like 250 million in one case. It's a lot of money, but again, it's not a tiny district. There's a lot of people that work here and they're entitled to their benefits. So, we have a clean opinion that's in this document here. And like I said, the as I indicate inside this document, the only thing that belongs

041to us is our independent auditor's opinion. Okay. The other document I give send is actually the what's called the AMR auditor's management report. My representation to the board about the operation of the business office. I've reviewed all of that. Okay? And it's included in here. There were no exceptions. there was nothing that we are required to report to the management uh that that is the board um that require the board to prepare a plan of action a corrective action plan okay one other thing inside of here is the summary of all the kid count I call them the kid counts okay the the attendance register the ASSA there's also information in here about your food service operation during co a lot of districts I know the ones I worked on ended up with the comment

042about the fact that they were in excess of the uh required maximum that they're allowed to keep in their food service fund. Well, you're under that number this year and that's a good thing. Okay, you're not so far under though that the fund is in trouble. Okay, the other thing too is is uh the food service fund does have a surplus. Okay, it's you're only allowed to keep it in the food service fund. You cannot use it for tax relief. Okay, it's because really although it looks like it's your money, most of the money in there is the is the federal government. So you are under that threshold as well. Also contained in this document is the calculation of the allocation of the various components of fund balance. We're required to do that. It gets

043verified. It goes into your electronic version and uh so be it. It goes through the system, goes through the channels. Now one last thing. This report was filed on time. There was a big struggle between the uh Department of Ed and the federal government and the auditors about as to when the real due date of this audit was. It started out it was December 5th which was 40 days sooner than last year. Made it very difficult for a lot of firms to issue their reports. In fact, as of yesterday, 82% of the districts were in. We're all in. All everybody I work on is in. So, and but you you you folks were in and the electronic version of the audit got filed which was required to be filed by December 5th because of the

044uh shutdown of the federal government. They did not release the compliance supplements that relate to what you're supposed to do. And by the way, for the record, the before the shutdown and after the shut down, the requirements were the same. So, it was really just a matter of trying to catch up. As I indicated last week at the meeting at the other districts I work on, they had a January 15th due date last year. They made it December 5th this year. It's very hard for any business to make up 40 days and 10 and a half months. Okay. In a profession where we are, we have trouble finding people and where we were behind to begin with, even going back to the COVID days. So this document here contains my representation of the board. There's

045nothing in here that needs to be acted on by the board. So in the end we have a clean opinion, excuse me, unmodified opinion and we have no recommendations. I do want to acknowledge excuse me the uh the support staff in all the buildings that we were in um they were very helpful and uh were very uh anxious to know if they had any oh thank you if they had any problems or we had any any input for them. But the system set up here is pretty good. Okay. So, uh, unless someone individually fails, okay, if they don't fail, then everything falls into place. Okay. And like I said, there's several people in the board office that were they were all very helpful. And of course, our administrative team was was very supportive as well.

046So, we want to do want to thank the board uh for their support. I think it's too late to wish a happy new year. According to Larry David, after three days, you can't wish anyone a happy new year, but I I always do. So the way I was raised, the first time you see somebody in the new year, you say happy new year. So what has to happen is the board then has to um adopt a yes resolution acknowledging the fact that the audit took place. >> Yes. >> And um >> mistletoe, we're going to adopt it tonight. >> Okay. Mistletoe. Right. >> And I've known Mr. Stanis for a long time and I don't remember you speaking that much the other years that I knew you. So I don't know. >> Well, it's the

047superintendent would give me the signal. >> Well, yeah. And I noticed that, you know, I was going to give you a signal, but I was trying to be very nice, but >> I asked him to do it, so it looks like I speak less, >> right? Yeah. And I just I know Miss Allen wants to take a um a count on a vote on this, but I just want to thank Miss Allen >> and her team for doing such an outstanding job, keeping us on the straight and narrow. It's not easy when you look at what each month the numbers that she gives us and the the the book that you gave us and I I read it all weekend. It was very nice and um all the numbers and how she still comes here

048and smiles and and we know that we should all know that we're so very well represented by her and the team that we have here in Monroe Township. So, can I can we give a a round of applause for Miss Allen? And now, Miss Allen, if you need to take a vote. >> Thank you. >> A resolution. I'm sorry. >> Thank you. And I want to thank my team because they're wonderful. Um, so >> Miss Allen, if we have questions, do you want us to do that after the resolution roll call or be before the resolution? >> You want to handle it? You want to do it? >> I think read the resol read. Read the resolution first. Yes. >> Okay. It is recommended that the members of the Monroe Township Board of Education accept

049and approve the annual comprehensive financial report and the auditor's management report on administrative findings, financial compliance, and performance and hereby approve and authorize the submission of the required corrective action plan to the county office indicating that there are no recommendations for fiscal year ending June 30th, 2025. >> Motion. >> A second. >> Second. >> Yes. I know. Any questions or comments, please? Miss Al. Yes, Mr. Ratner. >> Um, yes. So, I just had a couple of questions. Um, I don't know if they're for Mr. Stanwitz or Miss Alen. So, whoever should answer, feel free. Um, so the first was just about the student body activities fund. So, I know that um, you had mentioned like each school has their own funds and that's sort of just like the report that's kind of given to you.

050Um, and then this I saw it mentions like a test check of the bills and invoices regarding the cash dispersements records. I was just curious with like have each school having their own activities fund. How does that work? >> I don't know. Do you mind? >> We we get the records from each school and they they put them down in the basement. We go down there. My guys go down there and we check everything and uh we spend some time down there looking at it. Uh and uh usually though we're we're it it's it's looked at before we get there um on a periodic basis and and it should be >> okay. It's more of like an internal audit function because the biggest bulk of your I mean your your main budgets 170 million bucks

051or the the student activity funds is I don't want to say chump change but it's it's too small for us to worry about. Okay. But it should be worried about internally because every now and then, every now and then, and Adam can vouch for this, somewhere in New Jersey, somebody takes, it's usually once a year somewhere in some school district, somebody loses their job over goofing around with student activity money. So, it's important that it be maintained and reviewed on a on a periodic basis by the district. >> Yes. And we do um twice a year um perform an internal audit on the um every single school's activity funds and they are audited extensively extensively by the auditor like they check all the paid bills and the bank reconciliations and everything just as we do.

052>> Okay. >> Thanks. Um just two quick things. Um the ECE and Falcon Care expenditures. Um, I know that I believe it was EC was again in the positive and Falcon Care was a little bit in the negative. Um, but I know that there's like overlapping staff for these two programs. So, I was just curious how that's calculated when we look at that those totals, right? So, like some of the staff really, right, the like director stuff. Yes. How does that work? >> Yeah. So, the director and the secretary of the programs, they are allocated. there a portion of their salary is allocated to each program. So it's not just to one program. >> Okay. >> According to you know >> all right work. >> Okay. Um and then just the last thing the free

053and reduced lunch that you had mentioned when you're looking at that is it more just to determine that the applications were properly filled out or like that the percentage that is being reported to the state is accurate. I was just curious because I know you also mentioned grants and I know a lot of times grants can be dependent on that. So I was just curious what you're looking at with those. We double check to see on again a sample basis that if if they file a application, okay, and by the way that's becoming less and less prevalent because people get certified through the county or the state under the SNAP or the direct certification that takes the pressure off of the district as well as us. Okay, so substantially pretty much everyone's in compliance, but

054there are people that do have to come in and fill out the forms. uh we check to see okay that and there's guidelines you know how many kids you have in the house how many people live in the house and uh what the income levels are but what determine whether you're free or reduced so we check them but it's becoming less and less because of the direct uh and um so we check >> and someone someone in the business office I believe it's Diana does a pretty good job of reviewing all that stuff and like a lot uh you know periodically there's also an audit that is done internally by the district personnel they're required to actually audit like tell them I want to see your tax return and whether it's a real return or

055not they bring it in they look at it and you know they do have to verify um you know every now and then you get someone who lives in a mansion that's no income okay but that that's a rare case anymore but you know they they come up and you're they're required to audit 3% of the of the applications that are on file >> and that was that was complied with. >> Okay. Okay. Do we have any other questions? >> Yes. >> Um Mr. Senz, can you tell us again what the amount of money is that we have in reserve? >> Well, well, again, it's 13 million in total, but but uh Mr. Tfano, a lot of it spoken for. You know, we're seven months into the next fiscal year. Like I said, >> is

056that typical of us to have about that amount in reserve every year? >> Um I I I to recall over the years, years ago, I think that that number was a lot higher. >> Okay. And it if it's dwindling, there's reasons why. Not necessarily here, but in places it dwindles because budgets are getting tighter. Um there's pressure to keep taxes down everywhere. Budgets are getting tighter and the ability to rebuild surplus sometimes is diminished. Health benefits you're going to hear are out of control. Um, a lot of places budget a little higher because they really don't know uh what's going to happen like if they have to add more teachers or if somebody gets married and becomes a family plan and all that. Okay. So, it's hard. It's hard. Stuff is getting tighter on the

057uh expenditure side and that's why sometimes boards can't and municipalities can't rebuild surplus like they used to. Are >> is this something that you see in other school districts as well that number dwindling down? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. They they they during co some of the numbers were big, but now it's and I think real soon there's going to be a reality check for a lot of them that it's going to go even deeper. So, yeah, it could be >> go negative, too. >> Well, it can't go negative. Well, that's a different problem. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Anyone else have any questions? >> Miss Allen? >> Yes. Um, Miss Alvarez? >> Yes. >> Miss Forest? >> Yes. >> Mr. Yes. >> Yes. >> Dr. Peek, >> yes. >> Mr. Piro, >> yes. >> Miss Ratner, >>

058yes. >> Miss Chararma, >> yes. >> Mr. Tufano, >> yes. >> Mr. Zikner, >> yes. >> Mr. Payne, >> yes. >> Motion passes. Thank you. Good job. >> Congratulations. Thank you everybody. Thank you Jared. >> Thank you. >> The the the support staff and Laura and her staff, they deserve all the credit. Really? >> They did. >> Thank you. >> Good night. >> Okay. >> Thank you. We're going to go on to committee reports right now. Uh who would like to make the report first? Mr. Pier, we'll start on this side, Mr. Pier, and we'll come down and then go around. >> So, we're in some order. >> Okay. >> Building and grounds transportation. We met on January 13th at 6 p.m. in the media center. President was myself, uh Mr. Payne, Miss Alvarez, Mr.

059Marazine, uh Dr. Layman, and Mr. to scene from our facilities office. We spoke about uh the ESEP project update. Uh comm committee members reviewed a weekly update report provided by Honeywell which highlights completion of LED lighting upgrade project. Contractors are 100% finished in Barkley Brook, Mil Lake, Woodland, Oak Tree, the Fieldhouse, and the high school. Uh work just started at the middle school and is 60% complete. And also it's um 60% complete at uh Brookside. Boilers and pumps are in place in the middle school and ready to start up early next week. Uh currently Barkley Brook has one of the two new boilers operational and the second boiler should be up and running sometime within the next week. Uh work is progressing very well. We were told as far as the Applegarth RA grant project,

060the roof project electric service HVAC update, they provided us, administrator provided with an overview noting Apple reopened December 22nd. EACM continues to work on second shift finishing uh their painting, spackling, and adjusting uh set points. DMBB will have the gym units up and running by this Friday, uh, January 16th, and we're able to take the trailers and remove the trailers now from the middle school. So, the trailers at the middle school are gone. Uh, full day kindergarten. The committee reviewed the draft proposed from the architect on a record. Uh DI Group Architecture Administration presented the study to all members and discussed the project purpose study overview information analyzed for the following buildings including uh and it it would include a small addition on Oak Tree. Uh redoing the Mil Lake Annics with just upgrades and

061a small addition on Barkley Brook. Uh we're still in the plans and I'm sure Dr. Layman's going to touch base on where we stand. >> I just I just asked him if he would do that. >> Yeah. So it it's a it was a draft report. We presented uh we presented it to the three building principles. We got feedback from them. Then shortly after presented it to uh the BG&T committee. Uh we're bringing those feed that feedback back to the architect and they'll be uh at the BG&T meeting in February with the final report and then we'll put it up on the website so everyone can see. But the essence of that report is it's a piece of information for us. Uh when we're asked about what is the cost for us to fit full

062decay in restore our buildings to their initial design capacities, um we have that number now. So if we need to go to the state, we can give them an accurate number um based on comparable projects within the past one to three years. and uh it's just another nugget of information as we move forward um instead of just throwing numbers on the wall and seeing what sticks. >> Thank you. >> And then the last thing I had is the transportation review is administration provide an overview of bus operations, driver staffing and contracted routes and they also started the pilot program for the bus app which um we're hoping next month we'll start receiving some feedback on how that's working out. Okay. >> Thank you, Mr. Piro. >> Thank you. Mr. Ratner. >> Yep. I actually just

063had a quick question first for for VG&T. Um, so I know that it was discussed about, you know, possibly going out to a referendum and I know that for that they're going to come No. Okay. I was going to say like not the decision was made. I know that there's going to be a more uh comprehensive report on that next month. Um, but I know one thing question that after that meeting specifically and even before that that I've I've heard, you know, having two kids in lower elementary school is whether or not we can confirm if there's going to be full day kindergarten next year. And so I know as a board like it's been discussed. I know we can't necessarily have a crystal ball to know for sure that our funding is going to

064stay the same. But I also know having been with kids at that age that like if they're going to look for possible other options, they would have to start making those decisions soon. So is that something that we feel ready to publicly announce or for 26 27 or not yet? >> So when we're ready, we'll announce it and I'm not going to sit on it for any longer than I need to. Um we it's going to come down to finances. Um, like I've said before, we we're confident we can fit the students in the space we have. Um, and what that means is the classrooms that are on stages, the classrooms that are in media centers, the classrooms um that are in non-traditional environments that we've retrofitted and things do not get restored. Um, we

065are reclaiming space if we uh implement a full day program by the elimination of ECE, which takes up rooms. so we can reclaim those rooms for kindergarten classrooms. Um, but I'm not intending to sit on a decision uh any longer than we have to. If we could make a determination now financially that we can do it, um, we would tell you today that we can. I can tell I can tell you with confidence that we can fit in the building. Um, but it's going to come down to when we're confident financially that we can do this, um, we'll announce it. And, uh, I think it would be irresponsible for us to to make that commitment and then have to reig on it in the short term and things. So, um I understand it would have

066been ideal to announce it in December, but we will we will certainly uh push it out as soon as we can, but I think we're we're tiptoeing uh you know a tricky financial situation and I think the responsible thing to do for um for fiscal >> reasons as well as planning reasons. I don't want to give a false positive and have somebody scrambling and get squeezed out of a kindergarten option that they want to get into. So right >> um we will certainly do that. Um >> the project itself that we presented certainly can be a referendum project. It is not a capital project for to be to embed in our budget. Um it's something if we wanted to do sooner than later. We certainly have to take action on that. But I also understand

067to make that decision we need to know where we stand next year as well. So I think it all is going to come together at the same time. Um I wish it could be tomorrow. I wish it could have been a month ago. Um, but we're we're taking a cautiously uh fiscally responsible approach to this because when we come out and say we can do it, I want to make sure we can do it, >> right? You don't want to reneg on it. I just think maybe from that meeting there also might have been, you know, on social media some confusion. So, I appreciate the clarification in that we're hoping to do it, but we can't guarantee it. Um, I guess just from what you're saying, would it b basically come along with the budget

068hearings? Most likely. >> And if we can get it, if we can confirm before that, we'll we'll confirm before that. Um, it's, you know, we're pulling everything together. We went through a budget process with full day embedded in it. Um, we're going through our staffing process with the building principles. We actually went through that. Um, and we revisit it again as we finalize the budget. Um, intending to have kindergarten embedded in our budget. It's something that if we can't do, we can easily pull it out. Um, but we have the full intention of of working that into and making it work for this year. Um, and again, there's two paths to do this. It's make it work for next year and then we have the data now. We have that project queued up um for

069the long-term solution. And when I talked in October, we had those two paths, right? Short-term and medium long-term. Now, we have the information for both. >> Okay. Thank you, >> Miss Rner. Do you want to do your reports? >> Um, Mr. Marine has >> Oh, I'm sorry, Mr. Mayor. >> I I just had a follow up question. Uh, so as far as you mentioned, uh, EC. Um, so let's say we get full day uh, kindergarten into the schools next year. What happens to the personnel that are currently working those programs? Do they get reassigned? Um, like how would all that work with the our current uh, staff? >> So, they would the opport have the opportunity if they have the proper credentials to apply for any potential openings that are available. Um but outside that

070it would be a program that we would dissolve. Yep. Yep. They they are on they're in the operating they're in the enterprise fund. Um so we you know we board approve them and things like that but they're uh they're operating in a different category for us. >> Okay. Any other questions? Miss Ratner, do you want to do your reports? >> Okay. I have three. Bear with me. >> Oh, okay. >> I don't I didn't go over five minutes per report. I promise. Mr. Pain, >> I have four. I have four of them. >> I will I will do that less than four minutes. You got it. >> Four. Okay. >> All right. Um so my first one will be the curriculum committee. Um which uh Mr. Zikner is our new chair of curriculum. Um however

071um I had chaired this last meeting. Um so the curriculum committee met on January 14th. Board members present were Mr. Mr. Miss Ratner as myself. My gosh, Miss Alvarez, Dr. Peek, and Miss Deayne. There were several district administrators present as well. Mr. Snyder began the meeting by sharing information about the high school band and chorus trip for 2027. Students will be traveling to California from March 3rd through 7th, 2027. The highlight will be a performance by our Falcon performing groups at Disneyland. Students will also get to visit both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure, Medieval Times, the Santa Monica Pier Hard Rock Cafe, and the Grammy Museum where they will also learn about potential musical careers. Students will be given the opportunity to fundra for the trip and the cost to the district will be minimal

072as the only cost will be the required staffing as well as transportation to the airport. Next, the committee held a brief discussion about our summer course offerings. There was a discussion about additional enrichment classes, particularly financial literacy, which is something that has been brought up before um as students have occasionally had a hard time fulfilling their graduation requirements while also being able to take all of the additional elective classes that they want to take. So there definitely can do it. It's just some students have a whole list that they want to do. Um, it was shared that decisions on summer courses that are offered are based on student demand as well as available staff over the summer. Specific to financial literacy, it was shared that students now have six different options to fulfill the state

073graduation requirement which has reduced the demand for a financial literacy course in the summer. And then finally, the committee reviewed a new vehicular systems and metal fabrication curriculum. This course will allow students to gain real world skills in modern vehicle technology and also will encourage and teach proper safety training in the future. There is also the possibility of partnering with local companies for internships and this curriculum is on the agenda for tonight and um after the end of our meeting in here the committee had the opportunity to take a look at the facilities that in the building. >> Any questions? >> Anybody have any questions for Miss Ratner? I I just want to make a statement that that program for the vehicles is excellent. Should bring more of that into the school. >> Awesome. >>

074It was excellent going excellent going down and looking at it and and um Mr. Moral that took us down Dr. Layman to see all the things that the students are doing. It's it's just phenomenal here in our own district. >> So, uh we're we're very lucky to have that. Yes. >> Okay. Next. Um, I should start asking myself question. No, I'm just kidding. All right. So, the policy committee met on January 13th. The board of education members present were myself, Miss Forest, Mr. Marazine, and Miss DeFine. District min district administration was represented by Dr. Leman. The meeting began with an overview of how the policy manual is organized and how board members as well as others can access that information. We also shared some tips such as what a policy is versus a regulation, how

075policies are brought to the board and adopted as well as the role of stress estimate which helps us monitor any of the policy changes that are needed. The committee then reviewed a mandated change to our sexual harassment policy and regulation. These changes are being made due to updated updated title 7 and title 9 requirements at the federal level. It sets clear timelines for investigations and clarifies procedures for handling complaints. The board attorney was consulted for this as they typically handle a lot of these investigations um as well as there are um a number of large legal and civil rights implications within this within these changes. Um so tonight on the agenda you will see this policy which is 1552 up for first read and there's also two policies and regulations that are being abolished which

076are 3362 and 4352 as the new policy will streamline both of those. And then finally, the district um we the committee briefly discussed the district's policy manual wellness check that had been done by Strauss Esme. Um we noted that there are a lot of differences in this review compared to the one that was done by New Jersey school boards. Dr. Layman shared that he and Miss Sinsky will be creating a modified calendar based on the new information that will help us to ensure that we successfully meet our board goal. >> Any questions for Miss Ratner on policy? Okay, that's right. >> Okay. And now >> you don't have your own questions, do you? >> I could, but I won't. All right. Finally, >> don't even sing. >> All right. The legislative advocacy and community engagement

077committee met on January 13th. The board of education's member president were myself, Miss Force, Miss Chararma, and Miss Depay. The district administration was represented by Dr. Lehman. The committee began by reviewing materials from the December 2025 New Jersey School Board Legislative Committee meeting. This included a discussion on several bills that are or have actively been moving at the state level. Bills that have been passed or and or signed by the governor, which has changed again since our meeting, but not as much, um include the creation of a chronic absenteeism task force, a bell-to-bell ban on cell phones, as well as other internet enabled devices for non-educational purposes, and a mandatory cursive writing curriculum for grades 3 to 5. Still in discussion are a possible school district consolidation bill, as well as two separate school funding

078bills. The governor also placed an absolute veto u maybe Mr. Weiss can clarify exactly what that means on a pension bill which would have allowed school district staff to receive additional pension credit for extracurricular activities. This was done due to concerns on about strain on the pension system as well as equity across other state employee pension groups. The committee then briefly reviewed the results of the school funding report from the New Jersey Department of Education, which emphasized the need for flexibility on the tax level tax levy cap for certain categories, as well as better stability and earlier notice of funding to allow districts more time to create their annual budget. The district also reviewed the current advocacy page on our district website, which includes an updated advocacy letter that focuses on senior citizen supplemental stabilization

079aid. That's a really long thing. and support for full day kindergarten, which is currently considered an unfunded mandate by the state. I'm just gonna keep saying those two words. Um there's also a history of our prior advocacy level um work done last year as well as 2017 and 2018, which was the fair funding committee. I encourage all of our community members to take a look at the page which can be found under district information on our district homepage. And then finally, I just wanted to share two really quick updates since our meeting. Um, since our meeting, the Department of Education actually came out with their guidelines for the cell phone ban. There's some interesting stuff in there. Um, our policy company would still need to utilize that to create a policy. So, we're a while

080away from having an approved policy for our district, but I did just want to share that. It came out maybe on Friday of last week. Um, at least that's when I first saw it. Um and there and can share that link with anybody who's interested. And then I also did want to share that we has been announced that we have a new commissioner of education, Dr. Lily Lao L. I guess we'll probably learn how to say that correctly. Um that this was I think the very last commissioner announcement from the new governor. So I thought I found that interesting. Um I know that there's been some mixed review. I don't want to say make sure you have but like opinions from some of the legislators who either wanted stability or who wanted to see changes.

081Um but this is who we are going to be working with for most likely the next four years. So I did just want to share that. >> Thank you. Does anybody have any questions for Miss Ratner? >> Okay. No. Okay. Thank you Miss Ratner and Miss Alvarez. >> I have the finance report which is going to be a little bit redundant so I apologize ahead of time. The finance committee met on January 14, 2026. Present at the meeting were Petro, Amanda Peek, Gail Depay, Dr. Layman, Mrs. Allen, and Gerard Stanit Stanitz, sorry. The committee reviewed the bill list and the attorney invoice. Mr. Stanowitz provided the committee with an overview of the yearly audit, which was presented today to the public. As you heard, the district receives an unmodified clean audit opinion confirming financial statements

082fairly represent the district's financial position. The audit include a statistical sampling of payroll, expenditures, revenues, and internal controls with no errors or late payments. Found health benefits cost totaling approximately 23.4 million were verified as accurate and timely. Student activity funds were reviewed to ensure proper use and strong internal controls. 100% of student enrollment and attendance data was verified for state reporting purposes. Expenditures were confirmed to be properly documented, coded, and recorded in the correct fiscal year. Revenue sources including tax levy, transportation aid, special education reimbursements, and interest earnings were verified. The district ended the fiscal year with approximately 13.1 million in total fund balance, up from 9.6 million. 2.9 million in excess surplus was required to be applied to this current budget 2025 2026 and additional 6.7 million in surplus is projected as a revenue

083source for future budget planning. This concludes my report questions comments. >> Any questions for Miss Alvarez? >> Well, thank you everybody for your committee reports tonight. Uh the next portion of our meeting is a public forum. Anybody from the public who wishes to speak, please come to the podium and state your name and um where where you live in Monroe. And it has to do with only agenda items. >> George Gunglman, 5 kilo court. Um I I think I figured out the answer to one of my questions. the the acronym ECE was used and I think it means early childhood education >> Enrichment. Okay, I was close. Uh the audit report is there uh access by the public to that. Can we go to the board office and and look at it? the not that

084I'm keen to look at a lot of numbers, but the the part of the demographic report uh is of interest. >> Yes. >> So, we can just go and access it there. >> Yes, we will have that posted online on our website. >> Oh, it'll be on the website. The whole thing. >> Oh, great. >> And Mr. Gungkelman, um a portion of the reports are actually uh available as well on the DOE website. And it's done in such a way that every district throughout the state submits it in the same format. So you'd be able to see and actually compare um at some point during the school year. All you know all districts within the state and it all looks like an apples to apples comparison the way it's formatted. >> That that might be

085more than what I'm ready for. Well, when you get to that level, >> the the gray hair is not for nothing. Um, boilers were mentioned. Um, are these part of the new energy program or it's just a routine scheduled replacement? What is the story behind that? >> It's part of the uh energy savings improvement program we're in. So, it's one of the energy the cost savings uh that we're working through. >> Okay. Yep. >> My last question is um we're all experiencing increased energy costs at home. Our electric bills are going up, our gas bills are going up and we have a lot of buildings and a lot of stuff here. So, how much have ours gone up uh here both? Well, energy bills, particularly electric and gas. Uh, is there can anybody say what

086the number is and what the percentage of increases? >> Um, I I would say the percentage is it's over 20%. It's probably 25 or so percent increase over the last year. >> Yes. And how much does that turn out to be on a monthly or or annual basis that 20%. >> So >> if we were to apply it to the overall >> so I can just because I won't >> I think it's a significant number. >> Yeah. So we, you know, we spent um last year in energy costs um just over two million 2.3 million if I'm reading this correctly. I'm lining this up. Um yeah, about 2.3 million. So we figured 20% of that. >> Oh, four00,000. and we're looking, you know, we don't know yet the results of um the savings from the

087EIP >> from, you know, what we put into place. So that's >> right, >> just, you know, the 20% of what we paid last year, >> right? But >> or more than 20% >> assuming a continued norm, >> what would it we be looking at? And we're looking at a couple hundred,000 in increase. Yeah. >> No, it's I think it's going to be a a statewide topic. >> It already is, but it's going to get louder and and I think we'll have a similar experience with insurance. >> Yeah, absolutely. >> Unfortunately, it's budget busters. >> All right. Thank you, sir, for your comments. Anyone else wishing to speak? >> Good evening, everyone. Bob Valentine, Monroe Township. Uh, let me start with a very basic question because I don't want to waste your time. Um, I

088was on the district website today and I saw a report board of education township of Monroe County Middle Sex comprehensive annual financial report for the fiscal year ended June 3rd of 24. Is that what we just went over with you or something different? >> No, that's from last year. So, the one will be posted um likely tomorrow. >> Okay. Okay, that's fine. Then I'm going to defer. I'll look at it when it comes out and I'll come back with questions next month. All right. Yes. >> Let me just let me just do this then. Um, you know, I did watch the meetings. Um, I know it's a very challenging situation with the kindergarten and other things you're doing. And I don't know obviously I don't know whether you all know what's going on but I

089would just say that the one thing I did want to say is that I think one thing you want to do is make sure from an infrastructure point of view, equipment point of view, capital improvement point of view that you identify across all your facilities you know what might be needed because that might be the way in terms of a referendum and then possibly you can handle the kindergarten through operation hill through operations. I just and I'm also thinking about we just had this big you know new governor new commissioner a lot of uncertainty there. I'm not trying to slow you down. I'm just wondering is it maybe you need a little time to let the other stuff sort out and maybe go for something next year. But you have more information about that than

090me. But I'm just kind of like I'm listening to watching the meeting, listening to all this and just saying it may be a rush to try to get something done this year. You know, that's all just my thought on it. >> Are you good? >> Yeah, I'm good. >> All right. So, yeah, you I think your thought is right >> in line with what we were we were thinking. Um we certainly can move ahead quickly, but we also um have an opportunity to especially if we can get things in place next year, relieve the pressure of getting the program in place and then uh take a strategic look and we we have priority projects identified because we know what the the most intense the highest level projects were addressed through the ESIP program. Um and

091there are still projects that need to be addressed. there are other pieces of the you know programming or the controls and things that need to be completed. So we we certainly can compile some other projects to potentially package with like you said the uh this you know kindergarten specific infrastructure pro program. So um I think your thought is in line with what we have. We have a couple options. You know we can move forward or we can also um continue to move forward but weave some other things in there because you you're 100% right. There will always be infrastructure needs as we move forward. The roofs aren't getting any younger. Our HVAC gets age ages every year and we've talked about it. This building is approaching I believe 16 years now. So, um we're not

092too far from having to address some of the major rooftop units here and and those those themselves, one compressor could be $40,000. So, you know, there those are not small ticket items that um when you speak of a capital reserve of $23,000. Um we know we need to build a capital reserve and we need to look uh you know shortterm but longterm ahead. So >> great. And my last comment is um the March meeting um last year the budget was put into the regular meeting. It was a very crowded agenda. There was an award ceremony. A lot of things was a very late night. I could feel the parents looking at me as I was up here talking like when is he going to sit down? Um it sounds like, you know, potentially a lot

093of things you're going to want to talk about. I would just respectfully ask you to consider uh having a separate meeting. That's how it was done for the two years prior. I thought that was a very good way to do it uh to carve out the budget as a separate discussion. I think it's important enough that it's worthy of that, but I don't know what your agenda is going to look like, but I hope we won't see a rerun of last year when it was it was very late and just a tremendous amount of I don't think it's I think he gives things the right amount of consideration they deserve. That's all. Thank you. >> All right. Thank you for your comments. Anyone else wishing to speak? So, we'll close the public uh forum. >>

094Dr. Layman. >> Sure. Um before I get into the agenda, let me just pull up my notes. Um first thing I wanted to thank the Monad Foundation for uh awarding their annual grants this year. They totaled over $13,000. There were uh many many grants awarded. A couple examples include uh they typically uh fund some sort of music piece. So, we're going to uh bring in a mi a professional mi musician next year. This year we brought in Jerry Weldon. He's a a jazz musician. Um could be him or could be someone else next year. Um the engineering design and development course has their projects funded through there. Um we spoke about that a couple meetings ago. um they did their mid-year presentations and now they're de designing and developing prototypes. So they are going to

095fund that. New Jersey History Alive, that's a uh a program that one of the elementary schools is going to bring in. Um and then the workbased learning and career connections networking event. They're going to uh sponsor that event and uh through the grant. Um so those are a few different examples, but we thank them very much for their uh continued support. Um, we are wrapping up our winter concert performances tomorrow night with the middle school jazz and percussion concert. Um, it's really been almost a two-month winter concert season. It started early December and it's finally wrapping up now. But congratulations to all our students and directors. Um, it was a tremendous season uh again starting in December with elementary concerts and middle school and high school concerts and all the the special performances. So congratulations

096to them and uh we look forward to your spring concert series which is going to be starting sooner than later. So um >> true. >> Now moving on to the agenda under the superintendent report um 10 member vote board action. It's recommended that the board approve the attached board action items A through L. Motion through L. >> Second. >> Miss Allen. Okay. >> Any comments or questions? Yes, Miss R. >> Um I did just have one quick question. Um the new position that's title three funded for um the ESL teacher. Um is that something that >> we're doing? Board action, not personnel, right? >> Board action. Yeah, it's uh letter O number 28. U I I was just curious where this came from to like to start in January if there were additional students that

097required that help or um it's for title 3 after school ESP support. It says >> Yep. >> So you said the letter O. >> Yes. >> Yeah. So the teacher VSSL title 3 after school ESP support. >> Yep. So that is a title three funded position. We we actually have had that for multiple years in a row. Um yeah, I mean it's it's support for our uh ESL students. So >> Okay. >> Yep. >> Any other questions for Dr. May? >> Okay. >> Uh Miss Alvarez, >> yes. >> Miss Forest, >> yes. >> Mr. Marazine, >> yes. >> Dr. Peek. >> Yes. >> Mr. Piro, >> yes. >> Miss Ratner, >> yes. >> Miss Chararma, >> yes. >> Mr. Tufufano, >> yes. >> Mr. Likner, >> yes. >> M. Depay. >> Yes. >> Motion passes.

098>> So, under the nine member vote, it's recommended that the board approve items S through AX. SX. Right. >> Second. >> Are there any questions? Miss Ratner? >> Actually had a comment this time. Um I just there are several um other uh retirements that are on here that I just wanted to acknowledge. Um I don't think there were any on the team member. I can go back and check but um Dr. Graziano um who's been whose principal Appleg just oversaw a huge transition. Um and there's also you know several other retirements on here. Miss Delasio and Miss Hu Kuchi who um I've known because my my kids have gone to no lake that they've been you know truly remarkable there with the students um as well as Mr. Francis Harold Lac um Miss Marie Heitner

099um and Miss uh Susan Lerman at Brookside School um Mr. Peter Klaskan. There's there's a lot. Who's the school security officer at Woodland? Um has when I've gone there always has a smile on his face. And then um Miss Deborah Pari um who is a power professional at Brookside. So I I know there were a lot on there. Um but I just wanted to thank them all for all of their years in working with our students in our community. >> Miss Albert. >> Yes. >> Miss Forest. >> Yes. >> Mr. Marazine. Yes, >> Mr. Piro. >> Yes, >> Mr. Ratner. >> Um, yes. Um, except I just need to recuse on letter M for Mr. Ratner as well as the field trips to Broadway and the Brookdale assisted living. Um, for letter N. >> Okay.

100Um, Miss Sharma, >> yes. >> Mr. Tufano, >> yes. >> Mr. Zikner, >> yes. >> Mr. Payne, >> yes. Motion passes. >> So, board action 10- member vote. Uh, it's recommended the board approve attach board action items A through L. A through L. >> Second. Is there a >> second? Are there any questions? >> Ms. Alvarez. >> Yes. >> Miss Forest. >> Wait. U I'm not with the bill list, right? That's >> No. Okay. No, we're still on page 20. >> Okay. I just moved ahead. >> Okay. Uh, Mr. Marazine. >> Yes. Dr. Peek, >> yes. >> Mr. Piro, >> yes. >> Miss Ratner, >> yes. Um, I just need to recuse on letter A for Dr. Layman. Also, just for point clarification, that recusal for the nine member was for the next one. I

101can tell you when we get there, but I was just confused where when I was looking. So, it's for the staff development for nine member. >> Okay. Um, Miss Chararma. Yes, >> Mr. Tufano. >> Yes, >> Mr. Zikner. >> Yes, >> Mr. Payne. >> Yes. >> Motion passes. >> And board action nine member vote. It's recommended the board approve the attached board action items M through S. Motion M through S. >> Second. Any questions? >> Miss Allen. >> Yep. Uh, Miss Alvarez. >> Yes. >> Miss Forest. >> Yes. >> Mr. Marine? >> Yes. >> Mr. Piro? >> Yes. >> Miss Ratner? >> Yes. This is um recuse's letter um for Mr. Ratner and letter N for the Broadway trip and the Brookdale assisted living. >> Okay. Miss Chararma. >> Yes. >> Mr. Tufano? >> Yes.

102>> Mr. Zikner? >> Yes. >> Mr. Payne? >> Yes. >> Motion passes. >> And that concludes my report. >> Thank you very much, Dr. Layman. >> Yes. Excuse me. We have to um >> Mr. Weiss would like to make a statement. >> Okay. >> Yes. Um, I note that there is a uh on the bill list there is a uh payment listed for William Koy Esquire who represents um Dr. Chanley. Board members, you're aware of my prior guidance on this, but what I'm going to do is um read the Doctrine of Necessity resolution so that um the full board can vote on that particular bill list item. So, here goes. Whereas, Dr. Sharie Chanley serves in the capacity of superintendent for the 2526 school year. And whereas the board must consider certain personnel and litigation

103related matters concerning Dr. Chenley's employment. Whereas upon review of the various conflicts of interest of the current board members, it has been determined that at least six of the members have conflicts of interest pursuant to New Jersey School Ethics Act. And whereas pursuant to policy 0163, when a quorum of the board has conflicted interests, the doctrine of necessity may be invoked in order to allow conflicted board members to participate and vote only when the board of education has fewer non-conlicted board members than a required pursuant to statute to take action. And whereas when invoking the doctrine of of necessity, the board shall state publicly that it is invoking the doctrine of necessity with the reasons for doing so and the specific nature of the conflicts of interest. And whereas the board policy further provides that

104it shall read the resolution invoking the doctrine of necessity at a regularly scheduled public meeting, post the notice of the resolution for 30 days, and provide the school ethics commission with a copy of the resolution. And whereas the school ethics act NJSA18A12-21 was enacted by the New Jersey state legislature to ensure and preserve public confidence in schoolboard members and school administrators and to provide specific ethical standards to guide their conduct. And whereas the school ethics commission has provided guidance regarding the invocation of the doctrine of necessity when a quorum of the board of education is not available because members of the board of education have conflicts of interest on a matter required to be discussed and voted upon. And whereas the board intends to have a vote concerning a payment uh for the benefit of

105Dr. Chanley. Whereas the members of the board have conflicts of interest that would prevent their participation in and vote on matters related to Dr. Chanley are as follows. Number one, Carmen Alvarez, Gail Depay, Peter Piro, Usha Chararma, and Charles Zikner are involved in litigation with Dr. Chanley. Number two, Kate Ratner's husband, David, is a teacher employed by the board. Whereas, as a result of the foregoing, the board does not have a quorum to dis to consider and vote on matters related to the superintendent. Uh, and the board's council and the board have determined that it is necessary to invoke the doctrine of necessity. Now therefore, be it resolved that the above paragraphs are hereby incorporated by reference, and be it further resolved that the doctrine of necessity is hereby invoked with respect to the board's

106vote concerning payment for the benefit of Dr. Chanley. Further resolved that a copy of this resolution having been read at a public meeting of the board on January 21st, 2026 be posted in accordance with the board standard procedures for not less than 30 days and that the board secretary reflect the same in the minutes of the meeting and be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be provided to the school ethics commission. Do I have a motion and a second? >> Motion second. >> Discussion. >> Any discussion? Okay, Miss Yes, Miss Alvarez, >> just Okay, point of clarification. This is roll call just for the doctrine of necessity. Correct. >> Correct. >> Okay. >> Yes. >> Okay. Miss Forest. >> Yes. >> Mr. Meerine? >> Yes. >> Dr. Peek? >> Yes. >> Mr.

107Piro? >> Yes. >> Miss Ratner? >> Yes. >> Miss Chararma? >> Yes. >> Mr. Tufano? >> Yes. >> Mr. Zikner? >> Yes. >> Mr. Depay? >> Yes. Motion passes. Okay. Um, so it is recommended that board action items A through K under the 10 member vote be approved by consent. Roll call. >> Second. >> Is there a second? >> Are there any questions? Miss Ratner. >> Um, I had one question, one comment. Um, for letter A1, I see it's a new engineer of record for the 2526 year. Um I I might be correct but I thought we have an engineering record. Is this a change or is this an additional person? >> So this is um really regarding um related to the um kinder the full day kindergarten um project possible project the study um

108the wetlands to do a wetland study uh at Barkley Brook. Um >> okay. Okay. And then >> they won't, you know, be on a record as our engineers so we can use them for other things. >> So we're not there's nothing approved for them to do. It's just to have them on our list to be able to utilize them. >> Correct. >> Okay. And then I also did just want to quickly thank um I know Dr. Lman mentioned the Monroe Ed Foundation for the teacher grants. Um they also donated $10,000 to our high school wind ensemble um who was selected to perform at Carnegie Hall. So that was actually announced at the high school band concert. um last week maybe I believe it was or a few days ago I um this month um but

109I just just want to thank them for that as well as to our high school vice principal um Miss Weiss as she um for her donation of an auto harp to our school district. So thank you to everybody for your generosity. >> Any other questions? >> Yes. >> Sorry I'm I'm new as you know. So for the doctrine of necessity, which bill was that again, >> Miss Allen, if you could indicate which one that is? >> The the check number is 12947. >> And m Mr. Weiss, what's your recommendation for that? >> Um, well, I I've previously discussed with the board in close session um my thoughts with regard to the payment of that bill. Um, I'm not going to give my legal advice out here in public, but the board members, I believe, are

110very familiar with my position on that matter. >> Any other questions, Miss Allen? >> Yes. Okay, Miss Alvarez. >> Okay. Yes to all. Recuse on A2, recuse on check number 1311 for Mr. Rubin, and abstain on check number 12947. Okay. Okay. Um, an A2. Uh, Miss Forest. >> Um, yes to all except for check number and check number 13111. >> 220 and 13 >> 11 one >> one. Okay. Got it. Okay. Uh, Mr. Marazine. >> Uh, yes. All um u abstain on check number 12980 >> zero. Okay. Um Dr. Peek, >> yes to all. Mr. Piro, >> I need to uh recuse on A2 and I'm a no on check number 13111. I have three cues on 13311 and I'm a no on 12947. >> Okay. >> Yes to everything else. >> Okay. Ms. Ratner.

111>> Yes. To all I need to recuse on the bill list for check 12735 for Mr. Ratner, 12698 for Mr. Snider and 12897 for Ms. Abruzy Lithgal. And then on the addendum, I need to recuse on detail conflict on check 13111 for Mr. Ruben, and 13291 for Mr. Ratner, 1351 and 13292 for Mr. Snider, 1310 0 for Dr. for layman 12947 for the law office of William Koi and 13311 for Methyl and Worbble as well as recused due to conflict on A2 for Methyl and Worbble. >> Okay. Um Miss Chararma. >> Hi. Okay. I have no for check number and 1311 and yes for all >> 1311. one. Okay. >> Okay. >> Uh Mr. Tufano, >> yes to all. >> Okay, Mr. Zikner. >> Uh I'm fine with all except uh the bill list uh

1121311. Uh it I'm recusing on both 1311 and 12947. >> Okay. And Miss Deayne? >> Yes. Uh, yes to all, but on the bill list, I'm going to abstain on a payment to NJSBA for a conference I'm going to attend in March, and a no on check number 1311 and a no on check number 12947. Okay, so the check numbers that do not, let me just count them up. One, two, three, four, five, six. We have here one, two, three, four, five, six, seven. Um, everything passes except for check number >> 12947 and 1311. Okay, >> I'm sorry. >> Oh, I'm sorry. One, two, three, three. Yeah, that passed. Yeah. So the only things that did not pass are 12947 and 1311. And that concludes No, that does not that. So I'm sorry I voted

113to um it is recommended that board action items L through M under the nine member vote be approved by consent role. >> Motion second. >> Second. Are there any questions? >> Okay. Miss >> Miss Allen. >> Miss Alvarez. >> Yes. >> Miss Forest. Yes, Miss Marazine or Mr. Marazine, sorry. >> Yes, >> Mr. Piro. >> Yes, >> Miss Ratner. >> Yes, we're keys on letters L, numbers one through three. >> Miss Chararma, >> yes. >> Mr. Tufano, >> yes. >> Mr. Zikner, >> yes. >> Miss Depay, >> yes. >> Motion passes. And that concludes my report. >> Thank you very much, Miss Hen. >> Thank you. >> The board president's statement. I'm sorry I'm looking at my phone, but I noticed in the Home News Tribune the other day that Okay. >> um we had

114I saw someone who was 97 years old who was a 40-year teacher of special education here in Monroe Township. And I'm trying to look at through my phone. I'm not too good at that unless my grandchildren are with me and they help me find it faster. I wanted to get the woman's name and I wanted to um give all of our um appreciation to the lady who gave us 40 years of her life to special ed and I forgot where she went on to some place in New Brunswick, maybe the county courts and um she just passed away. So, I mean that's an achievement and uh I just wanted to give her family our condolences. Um, I also wanted to remind everybody sitting here that it is school board recognition month. Thank you to the

115present board and all past board members for their hard work and dedication. It is not an easy job, but in the end it is a very worthwhile one. And I also wanted to we have three videographers who are here this evening from our high school. And I'm going I know. How are you, dear? They were here two months ago and I got to talk to them in the back because I think it's wonderful that they give up their time to come here and I'm going to announce all of them when they come to the meetings. I'm going to announce their names. We have Alex Casus, is that correct? Um, Jonathan >> Chisp, did I say that right? Okay. and Darwin Bautista. Thank you for your time for coming out and doing our videography at these

116meetings. And I want to remind everybody that um our next meeting is where's the thing? Well, our next board committee meetings are all going to be on February 12th. Um Dr. Layman, if you want to explain what you have. No, >> no. I mean, I have other board misses I can talk about. >> Okay, fine. And they will be all in one night in February because of something that's happening um for the board and probably at halfhour intervals and uh we've done that before right before the holiday. So, I just wanted to remind everybody to check their calendars to see that they're all on that same date. >> Oh, okay. Go ahead. Uh uh yes, I'm done. Other board business. Anybody here? Have other board business here? >> I got something. Go >> ahead. I'm

117confused now. >> No, I just wanted >> I want to hear Dr. Layman's board business. >> No, I just wanted to we have some uh weather coming in this weekend and I wanted to speak to the calendar and just say as a reminder, um we have one snow day built in. So if whatever comes in this this could potentially be the first snowstorm we've had in in a few years. So we have uh one snow day built in. Once we go through the first snow day, if it's before President's Day, the second day we would reclaim from the calendar would be President's Day. Then we would move to spring break. So, just as a general notification, um that's what we're looking at. Again, who knows what it's going to look like. The news looks pretty

118horrible right now, but every day it changes. So, we'll see it when we get there. It's Wednesday and they're talking storm on Saturday night, Sunday it looks like. Um the other piece is um we'll be bringing the calendar next month for board approval. Um so anyone that's anticipating or wants to plan vacations for next year, it's something we'll bring uh for board approval next month. So we're in the process of developing it. uh we have been we're working with our community partners and making sure we have uh the days that we want to recognize uh properly um I guess recognized and have the right evenings and stuff lined up as well as uh locking in our graduation date. So um we currently have it down to three different variations of it, but we will definitely

119uh bring it in February in case anyone's asking. So >> I knew that's what he wanted to say. Yep. >> I just wanted to say about the February 7th. There's a reason and um it's it's just a general reason that's all. Yes, Miss Ratner. >> Um I guess I wanted to get clarification. You mentioned there's something for the board in February and that's why we're moving the committee meetings >> February. Yes, we're moving the board committee meetings to one day, >> right? You said because there was something for the board. That's there's nothing for the board on any other dates. >> No, no, I'm sorry. Did I say >> okay? That's another thing. >> No, no. Okay. >> We're moving them >> just that one month to one day at halfhour intervals. Okay. >> Okay.

120>> Is there anybody from the board that wishes to speak to this evening? >> No. Thank you. Anybody from the public that wishes to come up and speak? Good evening. Betty Sabrio, Monro Monroe Township. I have I am the parent of two children in the district. One of which is in a self-contained class, a special education program. And I'm also the leader for CPAC. For those that are not familiar, CPAC is a special education parent advisory group, which is a statemandated group. I have been advocating for special education for over 12 years and will continue to be the voice for so many like my son that do not have one. Over the last decade, we have made many improvements in the district and I want to personally thank Dr. Layman for his efforts in helping

121to ensure equity for our special ed community. That being said, there's still a lot that needs to be done and that continues to go on in this district. I wanted to speak out today for our students and as a parent. The hardest and yet most rewarding thing I've ever done is be a special needs mom. It is incredibly difficult and I ask all of you, including our staff, to put yourself in our place for just one minute out of your day every day. They say the stress of being a special ed parent is equivalent to being a combat soldier. I can say that is absolutely true. Today I want to speak about how we educate and treat our special education students in this district. A lot of people ask if advocates are anti-educators. Absolutely not.

122not anti-good educators. Personally, we have been privileged to have some of the best educators working with my son over the last 13 years in district. I have always said that I gave him life, but some of the educators that we have been privileged to work with gave him his best life. We have had the honor of having amazing educators past and present on his team to name a few. Dr. Layman, Miss Moralda, Miss McCloud, Jen Biddick, Megan Meyers, Stacy Libro, Caritz Barry, Christopher Musi, and so many more. Amazing. Absolutely amazing. But it is unfortunate that we have allowed special ed to become a labor issue sometimes in this district. That is not acceptable and this cannot continue. The delivery of a free and appropriate education to our students is required by law as is the

123treatment of students and not having any discriminatory actions towards them. We have heard so many horrific stories in the news the last few weeks specifically related to special education students and their treatment. While some of those are extreme, trust me when I tell you that as special education parents, we worry every day about how our students are treated. And to a lesser degree, our children experience this type of discrimination sometimes, maybe at a lesser level, even in this district. We need to ensure that our staff is not only ensuring a free and appropriate education, but treating our students with empathy and non-discriminatory actions and that our administration is ensuring an appropriate education and an appropriate environment for all of them and holding those accountable. Confidentiality has become a big issue in this district that is

124also being non-compliant. The way I listed people who have done commendable jobs as educators in this district, I can certainly go ahead and list the ones that have not. I will not do that today. But those that are non-compliant with the law and violating our students right absolutely have to be held accountable. As your CPAG leader, I am asking that the district take note that we must start to make some changes. This cannot be a labor issue. We must be compliant on every single IEP. We spoke in the audit about the IEPs and how they're all listed. But who's checking that we're compliant and to ensure appropriate education and treatment of all our children? They have rights, legal rights, and we need to be non-comp and we need to be compliant. Dr. Layman, I am

125confident, having worked with you over the last decade, that you take this to heart and that you are absolutely doing what it takes to get the work done and to continue partnering with CPAG. We need to ensure compliance, empathy, and accountability both for administrators and staff. CPAG will be very vocal in advocating for this and ensuring our students legal and moral rights. understand that having to advocate for basic human rights is what we will continue to do for our children, but understand that it is exhausting and it shouldn't be this way. Thank you. >> Thank you for your comments. Okay, there's no extra. They don't have to go into Okay. Motion to close the board meeting. Motion >> second. >> I'm not gonna say all those in favor because I know you're all going to

126be in danger. >> Oh, no. I want to stay another hour. Okay. You don't have