001Good evening everybody. We are here for the um lace meeting for the month of April. It's May agenda. It's tricky. It's April. We're here for lace. Um let's get started quickly. Um so we have a shorter agenda today. Um we have a shorter time to get everything in. So we're going to try to get as much done as we can. Luckily our first item up is our delegate assembly handbook discussion. And the last two delegate assemblies there were 15 resolutions. Maybe it was a lot. This time we the the res Oh, is it three now? Because the resolution committee when we met there had been four but maybe one was one was dropped. There's one, two, and four. Okay. So, three had to be dropped. So, it should be hopefully a shorter discussion here and
002then a um you know a shorter time there for you. Um, I want that's what I wanted to ask you before we even went into that is we're going to discuss it here. Do I need to discuss it at the full board? Uh, also because I want people to know here if how I'm voting because actually the three that are there NJSDA is pushing them forward, right? So, um, it would be moved to repeat it again if they're doing it, you know, right? So essentially I'll put this in my committee report and then if anybody has any concerns they can bring it up. So not to repeat what I what I did when I was doing that was you know I gathered the um you know information and the feedback from the board members as
003well as from the administration to see if there were any resolutions that didn't really align with what we wanted as a district. Um but these aren't they're not as significant as the So, I don't really think you should have that problem. Um, if you know, as for I guess my fellow board members, if you get a chance to look through it, there is some other good information in there about um what some of the other NJSBA uh committees, right, have been doing. Um I serve on the legislative committee. I also want to um congratulate Miss Pink. Uh she was um renominated for her Middle Sex County. Oh, really? I got it. Yeah. Oh, I thought that was on May 21st. Well, I get a I got that's the official May, but I did get reelected
004as the vice president. So, congratulations on that. Plus, I'm getting an award for over 20 years experience as a board of ed member. Awesome. And these two ladies were getting awards that night, too. Yes. So, it'll be the certifications and master. Yeah. Yeah. Master. My third masters. The third masters. Yes. Okay. Uh anyhow, so to the delegate uh handbook. Um and so the first resolution uh is on page I have it. I can get it real quick. Uh it's on page 61 um on the handbook. Um so it might look different for the PUF. So it's page um is this right? It's Woodbury's Is that Woodbury's port? Yeah. Okay. So it says that it's page 61 in the handbook. It's page 66 of the PDF file if that helps. Um and so the synopsis was
005uh they want to propose new policy language um that will promote student participation in intercolastic esports activities uh and encourages local boards to award varsity letters for such participation. Um and Miss P, I know you had said you had um I think you had mentioned I looked through them to see if I went through them all to see if there was or not and and NJSBA is supporting that. Right. Um, after I had asked Alexa what an esport was the convention, I went to a couple esports. Cool. Video games. You think it's video games? It's very interactive. It's like a VR or big screen. It's esports. They're playing games, but it's a lot of interacting team building. They don't just sit and video game. They like stretch. They have a whole program of like health
006and wellness and like mental breaks and they don't encourage the kids to just go home and play video games, but they have like that certain time and there's different games that they play depending on the age, but it's actually pretty cool for some of the kids who are not maybe into traditional something they Oh, I'm sorry. I was just asking if this is something we have in our So, we don't have a formal. Do we have something like it? We definitely have uh competitive like computer clubs, you know, after school activities. It's on our radar. It's also on NJSA's radar in terms of Yes. developing as a formal formal recognized sport. Um so I think it's, you know, something that we and I know you have a passion for it as well. We definitely see
007it's an opportunity to meet the needs of your student that may not fall under the umbrella of a traditional outdoor athletic kind of program. Uh but many of those students excel in sports as well. So, but it's it's another door to open up a opportunity for a student. We uh there's an infrastructure piece that goes to it technial technologically kind uh foundation I guess. Um I know East Brunswick had in there high school referendum proposal an entire esports virtual like classroom or something like that that would be used in the community and stuff. So there's definitely a movement to include that. Um you know we will get there. Yes, I feel like they're ready. Like it's definitely one of those like up and coming things that kind of serve me in the back of everybody's
008mind. But yeah, we started looking at even um not just with this current board, but you were on the other board, previous board, previous board president. It was something that was we also looked at. We did we got a presentation at one of the school board associate agent. We did go to the presentation. Zach, were you with me? I went to I was at it wasn't it wasn't this time I just went I went before I was at I think that was two sessions maybe it was two sessions ago so there is a lot of I I do think what Dr. employment I said is true. I think it's something that is just um we didn't even look at quotes. It's just yes very naturally something we're looking at. You know, we were very diligent
009to not add any new programs. We're not going out for another question. It was something that we made a commitment to doing. So, as we continue to look it through a funding source landing spot is probably going to be an MTSE. Yeah. in fact and and that is probably the at this point to try to find a private sponsor probably likely the way this thing will happen and that's why we went as far as to look at there are a couple things um challenging with that one it would be tough to install a programming right so you'd have to try to like you know we they I saw the lab with Goldbridgeidge they redcon an old computer lab into an esports center maybe they could have yeah I was thinking esponso I saw the I
010didn't I mean it looks I mean that was at the end of my mind but the uh so this is more for the younger groups. No no no also a governing body garden esport the other ones that actually we there's some minimum requirements where you could at least play some of the games. There's certain games Hamilton is a great case study. Um they and I don't know where they're at right now. Um, but a couple years ago when we were looking at this, they had a pretty wide and made their dollar. Um, obviously, so I don't know if they were sustained though. Can I ask a question about it though? We're considering it an esport and of course I'm didn't know too much till I read through it. Is it interactive with like with one
011with another district? Can I give you the best example? You know, like if somebody's here Monroe and they're competing against somebody in East Brunswick or Old Bridge, is that considered the East? Okay, that's one. So, here's the one I was looking at. Uh, so let's talk about golf. Monarch Hazard High School golf team could play compete against team from Catalina Island, California. I'm on you patch. Yes. Um, so that would be one example. Another example would be traditional game. They do have traditional gaming competition that that you know you would think competitive video games would so it it does scale. So I mean the Rocket League. Yeah. So it scales from Okay. So it's all kind like um like shoot games, right? Yeah. And it's not like that Minecraft and all. I know my my
012grand extent that I know. Don't be so quick to think uh Minecraft. Minecraft is one of the most widely adopted video games into STEM and CAT career. Really if they're playing that I actually learned a lot from the movie. Uh the best thing that Minecraft does for kids is it teaches them how to use a keyboard and mouse. Supposed to go. Yeah. I know that sounds ridiculous, but it's one of the first games that my kids use, but like even in kindergarten, like that's like an incentive like have to play Minecraft and like right now and they each have their own separate keyboards that they use with the games and and in fact Minecraft incentivizes players that learn how to code at my grand right there is a there is a level that we can
013get and it's something we should definitely take very seriously. We'll go back to school boards again go through it because they it is garden got so I think that would be a good bringing in on a small level financial just thought the momentum I mean possible partner correct correct would be that's what I was saying the most the most likely place to roll it out would be in an after school setting but I'd probably have to be here all right I'm going to move us on because I know we have to do policy at 8:30 I like this I can't tell you how hard half hour is for me, but I'm trying. All right, so the next um resolution um was from Franklin Township, and it was regarding nurse nursing qualifications. Um, and it looks
014like the school board said they wanted to mod they believe that the state should modify the existing requirements for a school nurse to consist of an RN certification, three additional classes in school specific operations as determined by the state of New Jersey to be completed within the first 18 months following commencement of employment at a public school. Um, and then all guidelines for continuing education would remain the same. I I don't know what the current requirements are for a school nurse. Um I think you need your bachelors, don't you? To be a head nurse in a school district. Well, not even a head nurse. Nice. Just to be a nurse. A nurse. Yeah. Okay. So, I I think that is correct. I mean, we we can double check it, but you can't just have to
015take classes in order uh to be a school nurse. Correct. Certification is only obtained with an associates degree. Correct. Right. compared to a school nurse which requires a fat degree. Yes. So what they're doing is I'm going to say this I won't be politically correct going to say they're lowering the standard. Yes. Disrespectfully they're just saying that it's they you need to have an RN and then take and then take the lack of of nurses where in this particular position you can't even hire them unless they have a bachelor. Right. Right. So just for clarification to the public and this is Franklin Township Warren County not here. Right. There's one right here. I think there's two rows. Yeah. Yeah, that's true. Um All right, sounds good. And then the third resolution was removed. So now
016it's technically resolution four, right? Um which they are also moving forward. Um which is regarding uh students should be permitted a limited number of state excused absences for participation in activities related to pursuing a skilled trade postgraduation. Um, so I guess going out and doing hours with um a different company that they're interested in almost like internship. So you would say that in addition to whatever certain holidays are are granted, you could say what fine. I'm just coming up with another they would say, well that's not a bad idea. I would be a proponent of that. I think the vocational education and looking at the intern maybe you want to read on what it says the resolution. Oh, sorry. I just did the recommendation. No, but I'm saying under the synopsis, it still says the
017resolution indicates that entry into these trades by high school students is paramount to the continuation of a diverse, vibrant, and self-reliant society. As such, students should have the opportunity to complete these requirements without the fear of violating local school attendance. Got it. And graduation requirements. And I think that's necessary for all of us to know. I was looking at the the end of it, so I No, no. And I believe and that's what got me. I thought that would be great because we the trades and great kind of you know problem with going out and maybe interning in an electrical contest because we've we've tried this and I don't I guess this is where the disconnect is because this was a chart we've been asked to do for years now, right? However, every time we
018brought people in they from the trades and even the locals, they won't touch our students because they're of their age. underage. Well, that be 18, don't they? Well, yeah. What this is this is so there's a handful of state attending exemptions. One of them is free visits. I believe this is yes the flip side of that parallel. So you could visit trade schools, you could do a day of like shadowing. Yeah. What it said is that the they want to support the attendance regulations should include um state excused absences for students who are completing steps necessary to enter the skills train could be a day like if there right I guess it's not included now but it should and it it absolutely should be looking to pursue right know like if you're going to be
019an apprentice for a plumber there are certain preliminary exams let's say like like going for the motor vehicle, right? That's excuse, right? Just for example. But I do agree because I think what you said is so key. What happens if a child is not college bounds? They're gonna go to a technical school, but they need to go and view it or maybe they have a relative, an uncle, a very good friend, a neighbor who says, you know what, because you're right, a lot of them are concerned about we tried setting that up with But maybe it wouldn't be that way. Maybe someone says, you know what, I'm taking the day off. Here's the letter head of where my neighbor works. And they said I could just shadow them for the day. I misunderstood. I thought
020they were direct. No, no, no. Giving them the leeway to have the same absence we would give to something else without the fear of Yeah, that's all. And I can just ask eighth grade parent here, two of us. Um, so when they get to high school, I know that like there's obviously state of youth absences aside from like being ill. Um, is if you miss those really nice state absences, right? like I'm like and in addition to like ill illness absences and things of that nature, but I know in order to receive credit you have to be in the class for a certain amount of days. Like does this mean but does that mean that like so if you have to be there for 80 days and you spend five days doing this count it
021counts as five days for 80 you're not in it's as if it's as if you were there. Okay. So, you do it. They're calling these state excuses. State, right? Okay. It's only So, the credit completion comes into play when they're unexcused, right? So, late illnesses, if you show proof, those are excused as well or those are low Well, there's a local attendance policy and a state attendance attendance is what we report. Okay. And that's that uh is something that is the same for every school district so they can get consistent comparative attendance numbers across the state. Every district then can have some tweaks at a local level. Okay. So the local level is what we use um towards graduation and things like that. Okay. Um the state has their standard again so they can compare
022us all to other other districts on an equal playing field and then each district can look at their uniqueness and there may be districts that have certain uniquenesses that they want to everybody adds onto this list. This list is very basic. Right. So all right sounds good. Uh let's move on to our next agenda item. Um I put a review of uh some recent legislative actions. I put the link. They just came out with the um capital watch um which is their new newsletter at school boards to sort of update us on movement on different bills. Um and I also had attached um what I had gotten from the governmental relations team for the legislative committee for them. Um we have another meeting in May. So this what is attached is a little bit old.
023It's just the last one that I got. So I figured I'd share it because I think it was after our last committee meeting. So I still hadn't had that. Um but you know really quick just looking at the capital watch I just sort of tried to look at any of the um bills that look that they could either very much affect us or that they have been signed into law. So therefore we have to follow it. I know there had been discussion. The first one that was listed um on this website is S4136 um which was signed by the governor which basically says we are allowed to continue utilizing newspapers for public notices because at one point they were going to remove that requirement. Um I don't want to read through all of these. I
024don't know. Um there is I think one important one is the school funding um which is S3 917 which was Senator Gopal's um changes to the school funding law. Um it I had checked on it, I believe, over the weekend, and there hadn't been any movement. So, if there was any movement this week, I'm not sure. But other than that, um, it's still sort of stuck where it was when we discussed it a few months ago. Um, which is good and bad because there were definitely things in there like, you know, they need a little tweaking, but I'm glad to see there's something. Um, they have a little bit more time now that budget season is. Yes. Almost right. get to that point where they have been tweaking quite a bit right now so they
025can get this ready. And the other one I wrote and I didn't write next to it was S3118. Can you look that one up? Yeah, it's right here. It's um so it was approved by the Senate Education Committee. It's provides that regional school districts, that's what I are not subject to state aid reductions under certain circumstances. Yes. And I and I caught that one because the other ones were very minuscule. I mean, there was some that I really were like out out there and they were like things that you would do every day anyway. Yeah. But that one hit me when it said when you regionalize the pending, you know, uh, state aid would not be cut. So, I was curious about that. So, I wonder if what they mean by that and I can
026look up the bill to do a little more research. Yeah. So, for example, there's the Freehold Regional High School District, right, which is under Senator Gopal's district. Um, and that's six different townships, six different high schools. Um, I don't know if they mean a district like that or if they're K through 12 or K through 12, right? Well, they mean like if like, you know, we've discussed, you know, the potential merging with Jamesburg before, if they mean that if we were to merge, then we would be considered a regional district and therefore the monies that perhaps Jamesburg gets that would perhaps could be ours would not be removed because of our more of our wealth. I mean that's what I that's what I understood as but you also have Miltown gowood you know you have
027so many districts that really you know regionalize and whether they know that they can you know that was in of interest to me so yeah so maybe we'll I'll make a note to look into it a little more June meeting May they don't have it maybe so June meeting um all right is there anything else on here that anyone saw that they felt um needs to be discussed. A lot of it was like, you know, creating different days to honor people and all of that, which, you know, I obviously support, but um No, I looked at these two stuck out to me the most. So, oh, actually, here's the one that's interesting that was signed by the governor March 31st, uh S1548 that requires districts to adopt policies concerning student use of sunscreen. Oh, I
028did see that. Oh, I saw that. Yes. I was like, do we have that policy regarding that? We don't have a policy with sunscreen. I think what it always comes down to is the responsibility of application or not application, right? And it's is the parent fundree, right? So then what happens on a field day when it needs to be reapplied and who assumes that responsibility? I'm sure it has some sort of complication and stuff. So it really only applies on field day. He'll say he's the biggest. And I think the teachers the teachers don't wear it either on field day. They don't apply it. That's for sure. I know. My son had his head is he's bald. So every day when he goes out for the his head gets on sunburn. I said, "Did you
029put it on?" No. Now you teleport. And so then just the the only other one that I feel like we should keep an eye on. I don't think there's been movement on this yet either was the cell phone, though. Yeah. Oh, that's right. It doesn't look like there's been movement since and like we said, we're we're very pleased because we know that at the high school level Yeah. without any requirements from the state went ahead and started looking at utilizing the the pouches the pouches um middle school and I guess elementary have very strict policy where you should be off, you should not be seen, right? And so forth. So we're not really that concerned if that's something they make. You know what would be only to me would be fiscally because I know Senator
030Gal said anything mandated he was going to pay taxes. Can we give him a receipt? That's what I'm saying. Hold the receipt and I would do retro retro. Uh see if we can get some retro money back. He didn't know. Gil the number was S3695 and A4882. Thank you. Yep. All right. Um just real quick, the last thing on the agenda um is just about a community engagement. Um so the first thing that I put on there was um social media update. Um I know that there had been discussion last week um and I'd spoken brief with Mr. Moralda about how we're utilizing social media and Blackboard Connect in order to communicate. Um and so I just figured a minute or two about like what we're doing. So, so one of the things that we
031think um are important and I I got some very nice compliments from parents that appreciated some of my black book connects which we then turn in turn put on our social media sites. So, we want um you know we try to acknowledge all the major I try very hard to acknowledge all the major holidays and there's more coming. There's more coming. There's one in June June 2nd or 3rd. I have they're all you're off in East Franza so I have my grandson. Yes. Yeah. And we we do it. We do it. So I we did I did um Yamhashawa which I got very nice emails from parents um because it was very important to acknowledge and that's based upon Holocaust remembrance day. Um we we also we wanted to acknowledge earth and armor day because
032it is our earth and we you know we plant trees which we did. Um some of you were a were able to come. I know that um you happen to be able to come and I know that um Miss Alvarez was able to be there as well. Um we we will continue to the best of our ability to to continue to do that. We love to involve the children. It's a great opportunity. The Arbor Day. So I've now experienced three I guess three. So right last year it was at Oak. The year before it was at Woodland. This year it was at Apple Boss. And it's just it's a great opportunity. And I always say I'm going to give a shout out. I don't have his name but the master gardener. I believe that is
033his title. Commission. Main tree commission. Oh he was free. He's a teacher. Oh no he's not. Oh, I say that stadium. You are a born teacher. I go, you probably don't remember. He goes, "No, you said it to me last year." When you said that, I was like, "Oh, it makes sense now." You know, kid. He's fantastic. And the kids all got a plan. And you know, when you when you really think about it, you know, John Dewy always said you learn by doing, right? You believe it's always learn by doing. The kids get involved. And I think it's so important because we're so heavily involved with technology. We're always looking at technology. We're always talking about technology. What a better way than to have children buy in to the understanding of what the trees
034give us something whe trying to do now is we're trying to take we call it blackboard it's really not but we still call it blackboard it's not really blackboard anymore is it I think it's still called blackboard it's going to be transar hopefully the summer that was our last update they delayed their roll out as a company that so I still call it blackboard hopefully over the summer they're gonna do right and we have lots of holidays and you If we try very hard to acknowledge the holidays and acknowledge also the ideals of what it means whether it be Martin Luther King Jr. Day or you know President's Day whatever the event might be. We're really trying to work hard and we try when when possible. I mean let's be honest we're Monroe Monroe Township
035Jamesburg we love Halloween. You I mean people get their costumes down and Halloween people when you know we this is huge. I know as well goes through social media and what there's actually more to that discussion than you think. Oh, probably. So, so social media can be very challenging because if you like for example, we had things we have to post, right? Right. And then you have uh you know there are events that are queued up weeks in advance to promote and then there's breaking news. Right. Right. Then you have the holiday and the acknowledgement of truck driver, right? Which I am now acknowledging all of that by the way. Yeah. So, so then it becomes okay. So, what we've kind of unofficially positioned oursel for on social media are really student centric. Yep. Card.
036Yeah. And and and that that's kind of the the the the test we apply when all right, so we have this play, right? Correct. We know we got to promote it on Thursday night. We don't want it to get pushed down by a meeting notification or something else. Do we sit on this coast for like it's literally like I have I'll have a a release uh time but then sometimes something will happen and we serve that queue right um Blackboard Connect we feel a little bit more comfortable spamming for lack of better not we don't we don't spam you know so so Dr. family can convey a message whether it's targeted or to the entire district whereas Facebook and social media we try to keep more media media and I I I for variety of
037reasons we prefer the public not to go to Facebook and social media for their for their information for coverage and maybe some celebratory stuff. Yeah. Or for some opinion that's fine the um the uh but when it comes to you know reporting on the district we try to keep that exclusively students and then like when we honor a teacher for some reason um I my sister used to yell at me because she sent a picture oh look we had a grade level meeting all the teachers they put on Facebook no kids in the picture I don't want see like obviously I'm sure their parents want to see it but like you know that and I joke around even with with the athletics and the dance stuff and we try to keep it studententric but Blackboard
038is is where we like to deliver maybe a little heavier messages, more thoughtfuls. Delightful. Well, I think that's pictures of the kids on Facebook. Well, photo release. Yes, they all have to do it. A friend of mine has a little grandson and her daughter refuses to file. They put a little thing. So, oh, okay. We don't even do that. I won't even like, oh, was everyone, right? What they do if they everyone has to sign the beginning of the year and then the teacher provide any pictures they have to check to make sure that there's other said please do not put my child's picture. Is there any way that we can I know there's so many holidays that when you send out the um calendar on certain holidays can you explain what the holiday is
039because I I mean East Brunswick has so many it is so difficult prior to me the prior superintendent before me didn't even put what the holiday was so just I was very passionate that we should I know there are many media trainers that tell you yeah so we to to be vague enough. I will really she I don't I have to give a shout out to Miss Gillanella. She actually fits Holocaust Remembrance Day. Don't ask me how. We try to we are very respectful of e holidays because there's two different ones. We want to make sure we spell it correctly. Right. So on our on our calendar, we're very respectful and we provide a lot of information, but we don't do an exploit on. So what we do is um but prior to me and
040who knows after me with the to superintendent they might go back to having no Easter. I think the more the better because you know what everybody we get more educated because you know I'm Catholic and when I was raised Catholic I only know certain holidays and then when my kids went to public school and they were invited to a bar mitzvah and they were invited to this and that and I learned all these different things and all these different religious holidays which is I love learning about people's religions. So I thought that's so great that we had them all but I had to ask everybody what they were. Some of them I didn't even know what they were. Um one quick thing regard I don't know if it's blackboard is that also what's used when
041I guess information is sent from principles to Yes. So, one thing that I have heard um there's, you know, because there's been some like great communication, but I don't I believe we were told it was district protocol. I don't if it's policy that everything has to be attached instead of having things in the email like if like for let's see if there's PTO things like that. So, it's not district pro. It's definitely not policy. It's not policy. Okay. What do we want to make it more? And I don't actually I wouldn't consider it a protocol. I would say the tool we're using which again it will be updated and I just looked back Mr. Feldman had reached out the beginning of March and they say we appreciate your enthusiasm to start this transition early. Um
042however we're not ready for you yet. So message it to XR will give us the capability to embed things. They those you either have basically a 12 point Times New Roman font. Okay. or an attack. That's pretty much it. And sometimes I'll send out so what I what we'll do is we'll construct a message we'll construct a message off of Blackboard and then we'll approve and everything like that usually um the uh and then we will then try to retcon it into Blackboard which is like basically typing HTML code. Yeah. I've even asked him like I do not I do not go on Facebook so I've always asked him can you do it on I hate it. I fig and you do it on Instagram and he'll say no because of the graphics. Got it.
043Yeah. I just know like parents have and I will say that I have to compliment the principles why I have an opportunity like I gave a shout out to secretaries the principles I asked them I am now on everything because I want to read everything and the amount of information that shared in all the different schools is fantastic. I I don't recall and you know we're not my children were younger I didn't live here. I do not recall that same level of connection, collaboration, communication I think was excellent. So I thought we would shout out. On that note, we will do the rest of this. I know because we haven't heard back from the we're still working on longer reviews and then the impact be resolution there. There's no rush. We can talk about that
044next month. Um so that's tried my best here. All right, that is everybody since have a great night.