001e e [Music] in accordance with the provisions of the New Jersey open public meetings law the Monro Township Board of Education has caused notice of this meeting to be published by having the date time and place thereof posted December 11th 2013 one at all schools two home new Tribune three cranberry press four filed with the clerk of the municipality at this time I'm going to add something to the agenda um because I we would like to um acknowledge two of our retiring board members this evening so um we're going to um give them plaques so I'm going to ask Mr Masters to please come to the microphone with me that one well that's the only one I think that we have I'll just come back and get this one oh this is this is how
002do you turn um tonight um Lou Masters and Ira tesler will be having their last days as Board of Education members um and I've asked them to we're going to give them plaques but I've asked them to put together some of the um topics that or the things that they have done that they're very proud of this thing is going to go around and around okay so the plaque reads as follows presented to Mr Lewis C Masters and sincere appreciation for dedicated service to the students in schools of Monroe Township while serving as a a board member of the monreo Township Board of Education from 2010 to 2013 so first I'd like to give you this and then um Lou while he's been a board member he has been the Board of Education rep to
003the middlex regional Ed Services Commission the board delegate to the New Jersey School Board Association from 201 to 2013 he's been a member of the ad hoc committee on growth and facilities and Par participated on strategic planning committees he's assisted with planning of the high school and middle school transitions he's been an advocate for continuing District technology updates as a chair for bg& buildings grounds and transportation he's facilitated multiple facilities upgrades including several roof projects all under the operating budget he fought against pay to participate he fought to bring back courtesy busing he fought for additional water and air quality testing in schools he's been a big proponent for the Applegarth Elementary facility upgrades championed the high school autistic classroom and increased special education funding he's been an advocate for security upgrades he's been a
004member of the board that facilitated over $17 million in budget efficiencies he's been a big supporter of Mecca and has fought to ensure pink slime was completely removed and prohibited from our lunch program and he has also been known to add a little spice to the occasional board Gathering so I'd like to congratulate you and um you've done a great job we've had an opportunity to see um one of your babies being born and having your family grow and it's been an honor to work with you as member of the Board of Education thank you IRA after this keeps going around Ira tesler his plaque reads us follows presented to Mr Ira tesler in sincere appreciation for dedicated service to the students in schools of Monroe Township while serving as a board member of the
005Monro Township Board of Education from 2007 to 2013 so let me hand you this you're welcome and he has had obviously many of the same accomplishments that Mr Masters has had but um he's also added that he's proud of the opening of the oak tree school which is on time and under budget the approval and the construction of the new high school on time and under budget the renovations to appleg school including air and water testing the hiring of a new superintendent the hiring of a new business administrator new new programs in our district which include special education Falcon life and Avid the overall increase on standardized test scores two successful negotiations with our bargaining units the last one with no increase to our budget he fought to bring back after school busing two days
006a week and fought against pay to participate he's been an advocate for the IP iPad program in the high school he has supported Mecca and the kindergarten enrichment program he's chaired the community relations committee he's chaired the Personnel committee and as the past year he's been the vice president of the Board of Education and Ira has shown his love of reading to our board meeting which we have all appreciated this past year so Ira we um you know we will miss you and we wish you and Lou the best of luck in your future thank you like to say something you want to say something first you were first you were first all right I'll go first so first and foremost I'd like to thank my family my wife my uh three daughters Amanda Rebecca
007and Ally uh for supporting me these past just about seven years on the board of education um you know sometimes it was tough when uh I missed some event or activity of my kid cuz Daddy had to go to a board meeting or a committee meeting and uh I'll I kudos to my wife for having to slept three kids to all their activities on their own sometimes when I wasn't available to help her out I surely like to thank um my fellow board members over the years it was an honor working uh with you over the past seven years I'd like to thank the administration the two administrations uh I've worked with uh Dr f f and Wayne holiday Wherever You Are Dr Hamilton Dr Gorman Mike Gorski our current Administration here today um I
008Sur also like to thank the rest of the staff I've worked with over the years all the teachers that uh change and influence the the uh children's lives every day and have to deal with my kids too who sometimes aren't the easy easiest kids to deal with over the years um and I just like to uh say that I will continue to be an advocate for public education I believe in the public education system I believe our kids uh deserve better uh over the years um when when I grew up my father had a retail store uh my mother was a stay-at-home mom and uh my father was pulled out of high school to fighting World War II he didn't go to college my mother didn't go to college and they wanted better for me
009uh so they got I attended College I went to Ruckers University I went to NGIT I got my masters in computer science so we all want better for our kids and and that's what I think we can we need to continue to push for uh in this town in the United States of America better for our kids better education for our kids not taking away things just to save a dollar um we need to make sure uh we have programs in the Arts in the sciences and not not not say we're not going to run class just because there's not enough kids to support it or or uh or or or take a or or bring back pay to participate and and and have an unfair tax on uh on uh on our students uh
010just because they choose to participate in a co-curricular or athletic activity so I think all our kids deserve better and I will continue uh to do what I can out there in the audience now to uh to promote that and uh I guess somebody out there make sure you save me a seat on the couch in the media center over the high school next month thank you very much and it's an honor I hope everybody has a happy holiday whatever you say celebrate happy belated Hanukkah merry Christmas happy New Year happy K Quanza and have a health healthy and happy New Year Mr Masters would you like to or Lou I'm going to call you Lou toight you can in several hours okay IO most of my thunder I'm not going to reiterate he's he
011has a lot of really good points and we did run together and I agree with him 99% would you like me to read what you're saying for you uh I you know it's like the Oscars I got to make sure I thank every person uh or I'm going to be in a lot of trouble when I go home meeing wife uh again like Iris said I'm very proud of what I did here um and I don't really regret any decisions I made except for I guess the Middle School signs paint Scheme uh which I did offer to pay for out of my own pocket because it was a bad decision but uh uh Jerry found some paint somewhere and he actually fixed it before it curred even know I think it doesn't needs new light
012bulb um we should put it on the next buildings and grounds are you still paying for it uh I don't know is it a 60 watt that we can't get anymore those are being banned but it really is Iris said it's it's a it's a it's something you got to love to do and it is something I really really loved um I want to thank all the administrators they make it a lot easier to do this job um the staff too the teachers are wonderful um best teachers around uh I have kids in the system and I I constantly find myself in awe of what they do and with with whatever they have uh and the dedication they have um the students too I'm amazed at the programs we see and the students are doing
013here uh really turning some things around which is a testament to the teachers in the administration and the Board of Ed also the board members I think I've learned something from every board member uh I think I've fought with every board member here and I'm not really sorry about that I think it was good um I will apologize if any feelings got hurt that's okay um you and I was thinking about the number one question I get um when sometimes people recognize on street is why would you do that you know a lot of us will say why would you do that you sit there and get yelled at for two hours or you know your friend stopped talking to you because you didn't vote for something or you did vote for something or it's
014not enough and the answer I always say it's the easiest answer but it's also kind of a copout is it's worth it it's plain and simple it's worth it um all this is worth it the kids are worth it and I don't regret any of it um I don't ask for any of my time back um I want to thank my kids because uh a lot of times they would come over and ask me why I was going out all the time I had a lot of committee meetings and a lot of other issues I had to go to um and I would just tell him Daddy's going to try to fix some things or do do some good um my wife she puts up a lot of the stuff like I were saying all
015those meetings and stuff like that but um I have a bit of a cult um and if anybody knows me I I will I land anguish over decisions um so she had to put up with a lot of that cuz I couldn't tell her what most of them were um so she would just see me on the phone or or or um she says I pull my eyebrows out of my head when I'm nervous or I'm thinking about stuff and she'd come in your hair when I'm done I have no hair to pull out like she would say but I would I'd come in and I'd have a almost a half of a bald eyebrow because I've been sitting there thinking about something all day um to do with the uh the Board of Ed
016but uh she's always been there and like Ira said she's pretty much carried most of the weight she's done all the hard work um I think that's about it um one more thing uh I always think um if if you've read Dickens um there's a really good quote towards the end it's actually a very negative quote but it also is very positive you think about it um it's basically it's a far far better thing we do than we've ever done before and I try to apply that um to what I do in life that you always move forward um and you try to do something better so thank you everybody I'm glad you gave me the chance to do this and uh like I said I'll be around don't worry and being the nerd I
017am that's the end of Star Trek Two Wrath of Khan quoted by Captain Kirk true does any of the board members want to make a comment Mr Chella I'm G to not be able to know who you are tonight because I can't see oh sorry well I just wanted to I just want to uh thank Lou and Ira for their service um to our community and to our children I think that the work that you guys have done the partnership that you've created and yeah we we don't always get along we don't always agree but that's not what what you know what's really important what's really important is that I always knew what your best intentions were and I always knew that your your your best intentions were to do what would do the right
018thing for the kids so we may not have always agreed on how to get there but I always knew that it was about doing the right thing for the kids and for the educational process so I just just want to I just want to thank you both for that and you guys have become personal friends I talk to Lou probably more than I speak to my wife these days and between uh committee meetings phone calls and things like that but and that's not going to go away so I just want you guys to know that I do appreciate your service and thank you for everything anyone else Mr Kaufman I'm I'm just going to take a moment of your time and uh maybe I'll make it very relatable I know most of you that are
019here tonight are not here for any of this and I know most of you here tonight have no clue who we are and what we do and why we do what we do and every now and then if you're too slow on the channel surfing button and you pause too long on Channel 28 you may find out who we are and what we do but I just want to let everybody here know why this is equally more difficult for me tonight besides being personal friends and going through the trenches with these guys here especially Ira those those ridiculous meetings that we had to do to build a new high school you have no idea cuz it was never on film God thank God for that um what you are losing tonight are two Representatives that
020had children in the schools that's very important because having had kids in the district and not having them here anymore there's a little bit of a disconnect once your kids graduate and they move on with their lives you're not in touch as they were talking about before about the dayto day and that's pretty significant here and I hope that's a wakeup call for some of you that are here because your representation has been haved you used to have four Representatives that had kids in the district and now you have two so that's pretty significant and if you enjoy the things that you like that's not to say anything derogatively of the new board members that are coming in it's just a point of fact you have two board members that have kids in the district
021and two new ones that are coming in that don't have it just keep that in mind we are trying to do our very best to make sure that we squeeze a dollar one out of every dollar we collect I mean in the perfect world that'd be great to do but it really doesn't happen that way um but we do really try and work hard for you and and and it is just an equally sad day because I'm losing these two friends and and you as a collective are losing a little bit of representation so again I applaud these gentlemen for putting in the time and effort that we do tirelessly I personally like not like them I'm in this only for the money um you know cuz that's just who I am and how I
022roll Mr Klein I think I see him nodding over there he was equally in it for the money as well uh so uh thank you for your time and attention and uh that's all I got anyone else okay at this time we will go to our student board members reports thank you oh good evening ladies and gentlemen um at Barkley Brook School students had the opportunity to attend an exciting assembly earlier this month where they learned about the importance of recycling this assembly was free for the school and it was sponsored by middlex County Clean communities during the month of December they are holding their second annual pennies for patients fundraiser money race will be donated to the leukemia and lioma Society the drive began with an assembly that had a number of fun events
023to raise money throughout the month today they have raised over $2,000 first grade students also participated in holidays around the world each first grade teacher selected a country and taught the students about the holidays celebrated in that country students created suitcases and passports which they took to each home no they took to each country sorry um they stored their souvenirs in their suitcases and when they returned home they stamped their passports with the country they visited the learning will con uh will accumulate on Friday as well as as all first graders will come together and sing It's a Small World it has been been a busy month at Woodland School in addition to classroom instruction and parent teacher conferences they have been busy busy supporting the local community collecting food and clothing for families in
024need they've also created holiday poppers full of candy to give children as they get a warm holiday meal in an effort to bring them some holiday cheer at Oak Tree school on November 14th they hosted the second family reading night called give thanks for reading over 500 people attended and stories were read by staff staff also dressed up as story book characters there was a book swap at the read box and centers were set up in the gym to promote a love for literacy at Monro Township High School the Toys for Tots fundraiser has been going on students were encouraged to bring new toys for underprivileged children this program was run by the Avid students this year's challenge day was a success challenge day is when groups of students get together and practice team building
025along with self-esteem building activities the purpose of challenge day was to provide students with programs that demonstrate the possibility of love and connection through the celebration of diversity truth and full expression winter break begins Monday December 23rd and school reopens on Thursday January 2nd thank you very much this time I'm going to turn over the next two agenda items to Dr Hamilton okay this good evening all this evening uh we are very proud to present uh Awards to our marching ban and color guards tonight we honor and recognize our marching Bandon color guards for winning the national championship title which occurred on Saturday November 9th under the direction of Mr Marty Griffin um if I could get a copy of uh Greg if you can give me a plaque that I can just read the
026inscription for the record um I'll share the inscription and then I will ask uh Mr berer if he would help in distributing the plaques um but the plaque reads Monroe Township High School marching band and color guard 2013 list the names of our band director band directors instructional staff or drum majors and the members of the ban and color guards and it reads the US band group TOA State and National Championship so please join me in congratulating our [Applause] students this recognition is is particularly important because um often what gets overlooked with this particular group is is the incredible sacrifice these students make with their practices and the competitions that are scheduled and often times this commitment requires them to uh forego sometimes family vacations and holidays when other kids are enjoying the time um
027off from school these youngsters are on the field with their advisors and I just want you to know how much we appreciate your service so Mr Byers if you could assist with Distributing the plaques should come over and shake hands be light yeah I know it's like it's like a supernova what we're going to do is is call each student's name I know we have uh uh most of the kids here hi Andrew and um I know some couldn't make it but when we call your name please come forward and accept your your plaque um we're going to start with our two drum Majors Rebecca Eisenberg and Adam ginel these are alphabetical the rest of the way so Skylar Adams Allison Ain Austin aen Kayla Albertson p [Applause] sushu gu this way and the front
028Mark zaso Ashley cooperman Nick DPO Chris [Applause] DPO Carolyn Earl Eric Evans Rachel Fernandez [Applause] Gary fernicola Cameron Fuller Maggie hansk Ali hmer Dan hmer batique Jane Mitchell Joseph Amanda Kuda adami Brian larusa Andrew mccab Karin molrine Cheyenne molr sha [Applause] nagpal pru out here Gregory [Applause] necrosis Donnie Owen Gabby Pico congratulations s Pago my tunnel Shane Palmer Gregory PCH Alexa quarino Steven Quinn [Applause] jacqulyn [Applause] Quinn shrier ready Jamie [Music] Roth Carolyn Russo Quinton shimo [Applause] Rachel [Applause] Simon Caitlyn samovitz Heather Simpson Bridget slain daniielle Sternberg Bonnie w [Applause] Jason [Applause] weinthal Austin Whitman Michaela [Applause] Whitman Jessica Williams and Rachel Zuckerman [Applause] really before these guys take a seat I do want to thank Dr Hamilton Board of Education we do tell these kids often during the season that they are locky to
029be in Monroe because this board does support not just marke but the Arts in general and we all know that the best kids are the art and music kids so don't forget that so thank you again your group two [Applause] Champions want to laugh one time around the auditorium but wait guys before you leave join me in thanking your band directors Mr Martin Griffin and Mr Alfred [Applause] hat now there is a group picture that was taken at the competition that we have not received yet when we received that group picture we're having another plaque created that will be mounted in the hall here at the high well across the street at the High School Kathy what I do too the middle [Music] school I just want to congratulate from the Board of Education the
030marching band as a a parent of a former band member going back to 1996 I've seen how much this band is grown and what they can do and I'm very proud of your accomplish ments so congratulations again I know Mr Kaufman has a a few words to say uh yeah real quickly I know there's a lot of noise in the room but uh in in addition to all the incredible amount of time that it takes to achieve an accomplishment like this I also want to take the time and effort to really thank the parents and and where are the pit crew parents are you here okay see see there is no way I would let this band leave here without me talking about that disconnect said before when my sons left they were both on
031the drum line and I was at every competition cuz I was a proud member of that fabulous pit crew back in the day [Applause] and now I'm catching a cold um the only thing that made me I guess more nervous than anything else was that hill at Allentown cuz back in the day you can't imagine the amount of equipment that we had when it was a group Five band so I just want to thank the parents and the kids this is an unbelievable accomplishment [Applause] thank had a lot of I Mr Chella I know that you next year that's okay I'm good you know my son I have to tell you my I that last year I told Marty after my youngest graduated I might come back the next year and I went home and
032I told my youngest about that and he had one word for me and that was creepy uh so uh I knew it was time to toss my hat in and and let the Next Generation take over Mr Chella yeah I just want to just take a minute I just want to tell you guys how incredibly proud I am of all of you I think this is an incredible incredible just an achievement that we're going to we're going to know and think about feel for a long time and I just want you to understand because I know sometimes uh Sports and other programs overshadow what you guys do but let me tell you something in my opinion when you go to a football game or you're even to a movie right imagine a movie without music
033but imagine that a football game without you guys when you feel those chills when when the spectators feel that adrenaline when they when they feel that team spirit that's coming from your music and that's something that I think people Overlook but that's where that comes from when you're sitting there and you're getting chills that's because you guys give it to us so just thank you for that achievement thank you to the parents thank you for the D to the directors I think you guys have just done something fabulous here and I'm going to remember this for a long time [Applause] than uh at this time we have a special presentation each month um a different principal or a different School hosts uh provides a a presentation to the board just to kind of highlight some
034of the things that are going on at the school level and this month is the Middle School's opportunity to present so Mrs Chanley if you would set us up and let us know what we're getting ready to see I guess you do okay good evening everyone and I would like to just take a very very brief 30 60 second opportunity to let you know that rather than do a PowerPoint and try and merge all the wonderful things we do here in the middle school we thought it would be an excellent opportunity to showcase a group of students that are our sixth graders and as you know three years ago we came together as a sixth seventh and eighth grade building and we stopped and said how do we make this about the whole child well
035this evening you'll have a opportunity an opportunity to truly see these children and how we embrace them so that it's not just the academics which is a major important part but it's also the social and emotional piece so without any further Ado we have our wonderful fabulous sixth grade little play Mickey Mouse kids oh that's what this is if I can uh inconvenience everybody to move out of the aisle the children will be coming down the aisle I think we were okay here we okay here um I think so you might be able to see a little bit better if you want to be in the first but if you com I'm going to move [Music] miye Micky Mouse Club mickye Mouse CL Micky Mouse CL Micky Mouse CL Micky Mouse CL Micky Mouse Club
036Micky Mouse Club Micky Mouse Club who's the leader of the club that's made for you and me m i c k e y m o u he there hi holder you're as welcome as can be m i c k e y m o u s c Mickey Mouse Donald Duck Mickey Mouse Donald Duck forever let us hold our Banner high high come along and sing the song and join the jam m i c k e y m o u s e [Applause] [Music] oh now I believe in looking like my time on Earth is cooking whether poka dot is Dri or even checked with some glamour guaranteeing every five fber of my being is display to quite remarkable effect from your CR true so to your death B your arm so never compromise except no
037substitute I would rather wear a barrel than conservative a power for dress has always been my strongest [Music] under anytime anywhere staying in or hitting downward from the top and working downward I that every Stitch is stitched in time whether we go or tur CL not to yourself ously the crime and the few who are invited to my wardrobe I delighted as they wed through my things to find in r that neg of formal I am anything but normal foress has always been my strongest over under [Music] anytime anywhere over underwear anytime anywhere oh dress has always been my dress has always been my dress has always been my strongest suit [Applause] hey carella hey is that a new fur coat my only true love darling I live for Furs I worship FS after all
038is there a woman in all this wretched world who doesn't me my name is Ariel and I'm a member of Peeta I just opened up a shelter for battered shrimp I bet 10021 a shrimp coat would stink sh moiselle it is the deepest pride and greatest Pleasures that we welcome you here tonight and now we invite you to relax let us pull up a chair as the dining roomy [Music] presents Be Our Guest Be Our Guest puts our service to the test TI around your neck sh and will provide the rest soup the oh we only live to serve try the great stuff it's delous don't believe me ask the dishes they can sing they can dance after all this this is France and the dinner here is that the second F go on on
039and you take a glance and then you'll be our guest we our guest Be Our [Music] Guest and now presenting your vinner Be Our Guest Be Our Guest get your worries off your chest let us say for your Entre weate we suggest try the bread try the soup when Theo it's a treat for any don't me the China singing dancing what an entertaining meal how could anyone be gloy or de we'll make you shout so Be Our Guest Be Our Guest Be Our Guest [Music] course by course one by one till you shout enough I'm done then we'll sing you off to sleep as you digest tonight you'll your feet up now up our Guest Be Our Guest please be [Music] [Applause] our what do WI poo walk on his fair beet what's wiy the
040Poo's favorite TV show Honey Boo [Music] Boo look for the Necessities the trle Necessities forget about worries and your stri I mean necessities of Mother Nature's recipes that bring the necessities of life where I wonder wherever I Ro I couldn't be F of my big home the bees are buing in the trees to some honey just for me you look under the Rocks ands and take a at the fancy and maybe try a few thead necessities of life will come to you they'll come to you [Music] look for the Necessities the simple Necessities forget about your worries and your stri I me the necessities of Mother Nature's recip that bring the bad necessities of life so just try to relax oh yeah in my backyard if you act like I act you're working too hard
041don't spend your time just looking around for something you want that can't be found when you find out you can live without it and go not thinking about it I'll tell you something true the necessities of life will come to you they'll come to you super fragilistic xous even all the sound of it is something quite atrocious if you say it loud enough you always ous Super K fragilistic xous when Stone AG men were chatting simply gring the fight oh if they heard this word they might have used it once or twice I'm sure Egyptian pharaohs would have grft it in a then every single pyamid would bear this hieroglyph oh super fragilistic xious say it and animals as fles super fragilis xous [Music] fragilistic xious if you say it's softly the effect can be
042hypnos check your breath before you speak in Cas it's super frag xous [Music] to so when the cat has got your tongue there's no need for dismay just sum up this word and then you got a lot to say pick out those 18 confidents at 16 Bells as well and put them in an order which is very hard to spell s u p e r c a l i f r a g i l i s t a c e x e i a l i d o c i o u s s u p e r c a l i f r a g i l i s t i c e x p i a l i d o c i l u s s u p e r c a l i
043f r a g i l i s c i c e x b i a l i d o c i o u super fragilistic xous even sound of atrocious if you say loud enough you'll always super fragilis super fragilistic super cal fragilistic XP [Music] Super fragilis [Applause] [Music] X yesterday we all were on our own road we didn't really know that each of us bring something to the table to help the others grow now's a chance to take a new direction to see through other eyes to make a choice to make a new connection to win the bigger prize we're all in this together we know that we are all and we see we're all in this together and it shows when we stand in make our dreams come [Music] true we're all here
044and speaking out with one voice we're going to rock the house o o [Music] hey hey hey we've arrived because we suck together we make each other [Music] strong together where we belong we're all in this together when we reach we can fly inside we can make it we're all in this together we see there's a chance that we have and we take it together together together everyone together together come on let's have some fun FAL everywhere wave your hands up in the air that's the way we do it let's get to it come on every one [Applause] well folks that's the end of our show I hope you all remember to wish upon a star every now and then as my old friend Jiminy Cricket once told me if your heart is in your
045dream no request is too extreme have magical night and don't forget to live happily ever after hey wait we ought to give these folks a proper Disney goodbye [Applause] well what do you have in mind I'm all [Music] ears Micky Mouse Club Micky Mouse Club Micky Mouse Club Micky Mouse Club now it's time to say goodbye to all our comp M see you real soon k e y why because we like you you [Music] [Applause] yeah e not me testing testing hello okay we're up thank you Sherie Mrs Chanley students accompanist teachers advisers very very nice nice change of pace Mr Masters this is why we do what we do we could be looking at the next American Idol or cat on Broadway Kathy Mr Tesla yeah um just like Mr Kaufman was a uh
046a band parent my oldest daughter uh did for theater in middle school all up the high school so I'm a drama parent um I like to thank you to Janet Kaufman Joyce Mr D Lorenzo for doing wonderful things uh with middle school and Applegarth uh my daughter got her start into her uh theater career in in school in seventh grade when she did High School Musical and went up uh to do over 11 shows and uh it's just a wonderful experience for the kids and and just goes to show you how important the Arts are as well as the academics so I just again thank you for all you're done and I appreciate it and um and one little story just to show how committed these kids are to the Arts um back in when
047my daughter was in 11th grade it was the first year the high school was doing the murder mystery theater and the week before I know Miss Coffman calls it Tech week Tech week the kids in the high school call it hell week but it's where they you know practice every day usually for8 nine hours a day and uh the night before opening day there was a snowstorm and the uh the kids couldn't have their last rehearsal right before opening night because it was an early dismissal and there was no after school activities so um my my daughter was all frantic and the kids were all frantic and all the kids on the show ended up coming to my house I fed them pizza and soda and they practiced the entire show in my basement and
048even the director Mr Burns came to my house and helped them so that's how committed these kids are and wonderful these kids are and it was just a memory I just wanted to share so congratulations thank you anybody else seeing no one I think we are going to uh number eight on the agenda the public forum anyone from the public wishing to speak to the agenda please come to the microphone and state your name and address for the recordit a minut you're on uh Chrissy scurby 8 semal Court um I just had a question under the board action uh residency contract um I know I ask at every meeting Dr Hamilton I'm just curious if if um how many students are enrolled who do not currently live in the township ship um since last month
049we have one actually it's not even a new student it's an extension of a previous one so I think we're about 11 now oh okay have we been we we're not seeing any increase with the building not yet not yet okay do you have any idea how that may affect going into next year I don't I have um information from the township regarding uh potential closing dates on on properties but that still doesn't tell me how many kids will be there so I don't have that information okay um and then uh something not on the agenda um on behalf of the oak tree Applegarth PTA we would like to also um wish Mr Masters and Mr Tesla the very best um Lou has been an incredible incredible um help at our schools he's part of
050our executive board on the PTA he has been dedicated to doing the best for our students um and I I hope IRA and Lou I hope you will run again uh for the board because what you've done in this community has been amazing for the students and your heart is really where it should be um for providing the best for our students um so again thank you for your service to our community our children do appreciate it thank you good [Applause] night real quick I'm for clim did I get that right Amy awesome Talent out up out there and and thank you I want to thank please give your name T I apologize MTA president um a lot of people don't know what goes on behind the scenes as Lou had shared and on behalf
051of MTA we also uh extend our best wishes to both Lou and a for the great work that they have done and all the support that they have given us through the years uh just a month ago I happened to be at a very wonderful meeting with Dr Hamilton and and Miss Sharie Chanley doing a sidebar for what you just saw up there for the sixth grade play uh some something like that made all of this happen so I thank everybody uh for all of your support and best of luck gentlemen run again Michelle armini 9 Nathaniel Street I'd like to also thank Mr tesler and Mr Masters for their service to this community um oh sincerely thank you very much I've been coming to meetings a lot and I know that you have given
052a countless hours of um dedication to to the programs thank you very much as a citizen and taxpayer and um a believer in the quality of public education I thank you for your I'm just going to break a rule thank you and good luck thank you okay um and and the theme of these lovely voices of these wonderful children I would like to thank the teachers the accompanist and um the school for providing this opportunity for us to see the talents and the the loveliness of the te of the children but um again with their lovely voices uh I'd like to point out that they said each one of us bring something to the table we're all in this together and that we're different in a good way so with that um that that lovely
053feeling and warm feeling that they brought I'm a little bit disappointed that Mr Kaufman a sitting board member um made comments that he did there it's a little disappointing so I hope uh we are recognized as bringing something to the table when we get on board um on the agenda there is a um close session hearing and then a mtaa contract I believe that's going to be either voted on or discussed okay um in some of my research before I get on the board I noticed that the School Board Association um talks about a lame duck session and just like to point out a few things about it and ask for your comment it says that the School Board Association recommends that Elaine duck concerns uh the usurping of the authority of the successor board
054um and for significant decisions made immediately prior to the January organization meeting so I would like to know if it is appropriate for the current sitting board to make a decision on a contract that will be um the the contract will be from June 30th 2014 to July 17th which would go the length of the next term the the term beginning January 2nd so I'm I would like to understand the appropriateness of having that discussion and a vote this evening and actually our attorney is here with us this evening so I'm going to defer that question to her Miss lordy you want to use this you can sit here now room yeah sure I think you raised a very important question and I think it um it is it is a subject matter as to
055which U my colleagues at the school boards Association and the legal department have commented uh from time to time as have the courts uh I took a look um at the materials that uh addressed this issue that were raised this afternoon um uh with with Mr Gorski by by you and what what I did was we went to the source uh of the material and that is the um the Noak case that's referenced there uh cuz I wanted to see what it said uh because what it did uh the the assertion appeared to me uh to be out of keeping the the the the part that that's that's relevant I I think um ma'am and they um the law is clear the commissioner said that in this state a board of education is a non-continuous
056body that may legally obligate its successor only in such ways as provided by Statute the relevant statute here is the perk act okay uh and um the law is similarly clear that a board May uh indeed is now obligated to enter into negotiation sessions with which if successful may be finalized prior to the time of its successor board organization meeting so what that tells us is that under the perk act then it's really we call it by shorthand the perk act but it's the New Jersey employer employee relations act that under that law or or other in other words statute the board does have the authority uh to finalize uh the product of its negotiations with the body so there is the authority to do it if the board wishes to do so so I
057hope that at least provides the legal piece of of the resp but it also says aard um should not should not put into um a budget that which this body is really not budgeting for their own budget they're budgeting for the budget of the future board the successor board as every as every board does when it handles budget matters but with respect to the approval of a memorandum of agreement that goes to Collective negotiations what the Noak case tells us is that under the perk act there's an obligation to engage in negotiations and then there is the authority to move forward to approve a memorandum of agreement which essentially is approving a proposed agreement that's just what specifically the Noak case were it was a case with the incumbents the the the decision was not
058the the end of the decision they weren't happy with the way the board responded but because they allowed the petition not to be they voided the petition because the incumbents were the same people who were V voting prior to the the successor board I think it's different in this case they're oblig excuse me let me just they're obligating the successor board to a budgetary item that is not um in their purview as far as I could say I I understand your perspective on this but I think that the Noak case is pretty clear in articulating what is not a new legal principle and I speak to you not as a matter of policy or or in terms of making a business decision but rather what the what the law will permit and in my my
059view my very studied view um I think the Noak case is clear in terms of its articulation of uh an explanation of the rules set forth in the employer employee relations act okay because it also says that in such matters it is important that the Board of Education to avoid the very appearance of non-compliance so what I would ask you is if this is not a significant enough matter to bring to the next successor what would be example of this is sort of important I I know have to be fair to everybody I think I gave it initially and that is with respect to uh seeking to appoint someone now as uh for a vacancy that wouldn't occur until July 1 for example that would be something this board would not act on I think
060under the perk act it has it has the authority to act thank you very much thank you anyone else from the public wishing to speak a hello everyone P Patrice Fon 81 for go Avenue Monroe Township first time I've ever said that in my life um I just want to uh congratulate Mr Kaufman Michelle and Tom for their uh election wins and um wish you all the best of luck it's not an easy Road and um you'll learn that as you go along I do want to uh say to Ira and Lou I've known you both IA I've known you 17 years I was the Monro rep for 17 years both of you are equally passionate and dedicated and hardworking it's not always easy to sit in the audience and understand what goes on from
061this perspective we've made you've made I've made we've all made some very difficult decisions that weren't always understood by the public because they didn't see what went beyond Behind the Scenes I just want to thank you both for your dedication to the Jamesburg and Monroe students from K to 12 um I wish you the best of luck and the day that Joe hoki lost I said sometimes people get what they deserve and when they vote people out for agendas that they don't really understand themselves you have to live with those consequences but I wish everybody the best of luck and I miss all of you and um I just want to wanted to come up and thank all of you for your service and uh happy healthy New Year thank you Patrice and we understand
062that you're running for the Monroe board next year P come back Robert roach at mfield Boulevard Monroe in all due respect to your legal opinion um I don't know that there's any particular requirement that the board act tonight on that contract that that is correct sir I did not indicate that there is a requirement what I said is that the board may do so sir I understand that so I think for the sake of transparency for the sake of letting the new board members that are coming on January 2nd to be involved in this process I think it just shows for the board to go tonight and go through this process I think it shows that they're not very open to new members especially in in lie of Mr C Ms derogatory comments I have
063in 5 years going to board members I have never seen anybody so demeaning the second and since I almost want to be demeaning but I'm going to try not to be uh one of the items on the board uh agenda is the uh nepotism policy at the policy meeting last evening Monday evening rather uh we there was a discussion about the nepotism policy about extending the from 6 months to one year uh former board members before an a relative or employee uh relative could be employed by the board uh first of all I think and it talks about talked about how many people were involved in that policy I think that policy is very very limited and I don't think it should I think it should be expanded and to include many more people but
064I just want to point out to the board that there is uh an advisory opinion by the um by the uh School ethics commission which indicates that and this as far as voting on this nepotism policy this evening says under New Jersey state act 18a double col in 12-24 C no school official shall act in His official capacity in any matter where he a member of his immediate family or a business bus organization in which he has an interest has a direct or indirect Financial or personal involvement that might reasonably be expected to impair his objectivity and Independence of judgment the Supreme Court stated in wasoski wasowski versus rius I'm not sure I'm pronouncing that right but you probably know which one I'm referring to says the question will always be whether the circumstances could
065reasonably be interpreted to show that they had a likely capacity to take the official to depart from the sworn Duty I'm asking and recommending that anyone who may fit into this category who is leaving this board January second not vote on the nepotism policy thank you I didn't name you Nelson Chan for Ashley Court uh on page 13 item I the ap3d art how many students are enrolled in that number hand I look it up to you I think it's uh three or four three or four students so we're you're going to vote on a class for three or four students is that correct I don't understand the question with the class is currently running oh it ISR that's a curriculum revision it's a oh I see okay uh I just want to comment that
066uh I thought Mr Kaufman's comments earlier were totally inappropriate as to the incoming board members anyone else from the public good evening Tom notein 15 to Daniel Street um it's my understanding we're voting on The nepotism policy this evening um nepotism is something that's very very important to me um I feel that nepotism is what breaks the trust between the board and the public I'm an advocate that there should be no nepotism period um this policy while an improvement because basically it looks like I think Kirk myth I'm wrong uh president of the board we're going from a year uh 6 months to a year correct that's part of the discussion yes that's basically the only change um I I think there's other changes I do do have it up look from my the the
067changes are as follows for a you want to discuss this during the netism than um if you wish all right just you can answer okay um be your pardon the the changes are that a retiring board member the current law is that they have to wait six months if they were to be recommended by the superintendent of schools for a position within the same district and this proposed policy extends that to one year additionally it prohibits the superintendent of schools from recommending for employment the relative as defined by the state under this regulation for employment within the district for a period of also one year and finally it does not exempt substitutes who have gained regular employment from being exempt from this policy they can continue to be employed as substitutes but they could not
068be recommended for employment for that same period one year those are the three proposed changes to this policy so in other words a substitute can't be recommended by the uh superintendent until after a year they not that's not considered they're already employed and they won't be grandfathered correct substitute related to a retiring board member one year correct um again I I I feel too that this is definitely not broad enough I don't understand why we did not include principles why we did not include administrators and why we did not include teachers um the municipal uh the Town Council they have a fantastic nepotism policy if you're a police officer in Monroe you cannot have anybody in your family working in Monroe period I don't think it's that difficult it's a common sense type of situation
069as far as nepotism is concerned um it breaks the trust and that's what I heard constantly between when I was campaigning was they don't trust the board and there's no quicker way to break the trust is than having the nepotism policy where you have to know somebody I grew up in Jersey City my sisters went to get a job in in the board the first question who do you know okay and we know how that turned out in Jersey City the state is now running their Board of Ed okay so it's a concern uh one of the uh members I think it was Mr Masters brought it up at the policy uh committee meeting wanted to know do we have a problem with this I guess he wanted to know is this solving a problem
070the question is and it's been my biggest complaint about the board is that the board has been reactive here we finally have a policy where it's going to be proactive where we're saying maybe we don't have a problem now but we may in the future so it's imperative that we say let's look ahead let's not just solve problems let's prevent problems because it's that lack of transparency to the public that is one of the biggest problems and the biggest way to break that trust um I too was appalled by Mr cowman's uh remarks tonight and I want to Ure this public that I represent all children when I get sworn in on January anuary 2nd just like all board members that get sworn in we don't just represent the children of Monroe we represent all
071children in the state whether or not we have children in the district whether we have children in the in in the state we represent the children and to him to sit there and say we don't represent and that the parents have lost representation I think is a serious charge and I really think it's an ethical charge thank you thank you Robert Zuckerman two Country Brook sure most of you have read my emails so sure you know what I'm up here to speak about I want to first thank you for at least recognizing our children our Champions tonight um that does not go unnoticed it is unfortunate that most of them have left and their parents have left cuz you guys did have the opportunity tonight to go above and beyond just recognizing them you had
072the ability to change a policy that treats them unequally and you all know it's wrong why you're deciding not to make that agenda item tonight is beyond me you took the first 25 minutes of this meeting to recognize two of your own you change the agenda to recognize two of your own rightfully so you spent years on the board you deserve your recognition these kids work their tails off to get State and national championships they deserve equal treatment under the policy and I'm asking you to change the policy tonight not wait to kick it down the road to January 8th well we are losing representation whether despite the rest of the compet I appreciate Mr coffin I appreciate Mr coffin pointing out that we are losing representation for people who have students in this building
073because I think it's important particularly on a topic like this where we need the representation so I'm asking you tonight to change your agenda five minutes of your time change a policy that's wrong make it equal treat our our athletes you were going to charge us $100 as athletes thankfully some of you guys fought against that but now that they want equal recognition as athletes you're going to kick it down the road to the next board it's just wrong do the right thing you have the ability while at least some of them are still here here to do the right thing set an example unfortunately most of them have left most of their parents have left but maybe the rest of them who are here can go home and say they changed the policy you
074did the right thing if you're not going to do that can I at least have your commitment that in the January meeting in fact our kids will be treated equally can I at least get that verbal tonight that our kids will be treated equally is anyone on the board willing to at least give me that tonight I'll give it to you thank so I I noticed this half the room I don't really expect much because you guys didn't even have the courtesy to applaud our children earlier and I that's not right and I and I notice that and I and I take notice of that and I think a lot of other people excuse me you're out of order you speak to the chair okay um I just want to recognize that this half of
075the table opted not to at least applaud for our children so I'm asking tonight again will you at least consider adding one agenda item to change policy we could not do that but you change but you change your agenda to recognize to your own the the it's not an agenda item the process of changing a policy has to go to the policy committee and then it goes from the policy committee if they approve it to the board and it has to have two readings for two different months do we have your commitment that that will be on the January meeting and that we have at least some support at this table I I can guarantee you that we will bring it to the policy committee and after the policy committee if it comes out of
076the not the commitment I was looking for man' but I appreciate you your honesty thank you anyone else from the public Maran Lester 44 Avenue I page 15 number three could you please explain This Woman's uh function since we do have a a lawyer for the board already exactly what she's going to be doing Mr Gorski particularly to observe yes item three on the agenda is for a board Ser certified um analyst who in the cases of litigation would offer a independent outside opinion on a child's placement for for therapy and although there is no immediate scheduling or need for such a service it was recommended by councel uh to our special education director to make this appointment so you wouldn't have to be delayed if that need should arise for a board meeting to
077approve it okay and I also take issue with Mr Kaufman's comments tonight just because you CH have children currently in the school system don't doesn't mean that you care more than other people would about the students in our school system as a matter of fact it might Prejudice you to vote for programs that your children are in anyone else from the public wishing to speak to the agenda hi Sharon and to Hampton um it's not regarding the agenda it's what Mr um for the band parents had spoken about I just wanted to get some information as to this review policy that has to be take place how long it's going to take and going into all those committees how long before we would know something or what me according to our according to our bylaws
078which we have to follow any um policy change or addition or correction would have to go through the policy committee um when the new board reorganizes there will be a new probably a new committee set um then after the committee is set this would be on the agenda for the first meeting if it comes out of the policy if committee if the committee agrees to this it would go to the first board uh the full board for a first reading and if they approve that then it will go to the second reading the next month so it probably um might not get here for a first reading till maybe February depending on when the new committees are reorganized so it would take two months yes and could we have that retroactively that would be a
079discussion that the policy committee would make we have never done something like that retroactively but that would be a discussion for the committee okay and as far as the comments were made that keep coming up I think he only spoke the truth when he said that you know he had kids and that's something that stands for the people that are on the board that have kids it's just a statement of Truth being honest thank you anyone else from the public see now we're going to close the public forum and I I oh we we not get into your report yet um I have the approval of the minutes for the public Board of Education meeting of November 13 2013 so moveed Mr Chella second second by Mr Masters are there any additions or Corrections okay
080all in favor opposed extensions okay the approval of the minutes for the closed session meeting of November 13 2013 so move second Mr Chella Mr Masters um all in favor I opposed abstentions then the minutes have passed um and we'll go to committee reports are there any committees that need to report this evening Mr tesler thank you uh Madam President we had a Personnel committee the other day items discussed were number one uh Dr HR coordinator recommendation Dr Hamilton will be recommending advising the committee of his recommendation for the HR coordinator position later tonight number two Mecca Staffing Dr Hamilton and excuse me Marietta provided the committee with an update on Mecca Staffing because of the increase enrollment and the current and the current director is working 12 hour days in order to keep student
081staff ratio in compliance with the established guidelines uh Dr Hamilton expressed that he was concerned that you would not continue to be able to perform to maintain this kind of workload he's requesting to authorize 2 3.25 hour poers to work during the high traffic times drop off off and pick up this would enable the director the flexor days the recommendation is only temporary moving forward we're going to be using high school students from the um senior option program to fulfill these positions and the committee supported this recommendation number three Behavior specialist 20145 Dr Hamilton advised the committee that he will seek a behavior specialist at the high school and one at the middle school to work specifically with students who may not necessarily be classified youngsters but have demonstrated emotional or behavioral issues which warrants
082intervention and support the committee supported this recommendation as well Staffing to 2014 and 2015 Dr Hamilton advised the committee the staffing needs of the upcoming school year and the uncertainty because of new developments he advis the committee to be to just be advised if enrollment projections change over the summer and number five tuition reimbursement for non-affiliate employees this item was discussed previously with and Dr Hamilton reintroduced it for clarity and Direction it was determined that non-affiliate tuition would be capped the same as principles and a separate agreement would be included this will be infused in the contract language for non-affiliate employees in the school year and that concludes my report thank you Mr tesler is there any other reports Mr Kaufman sure we had a curriculum meeting this evening uh there were a couple of
083uh topics we didn't get to the full agenda uh but we spoke about the co-curricular activities report from both the high school and the middle school we had a presentation on some of the activities the attendance uh some very good questions were asked I believe during the meeting and uh we got some very good information on how these uh committees I'm sorry these clubs are being attended and how we will continue to keep up with monitoring their attendance and if they're successful or not and what we intend to do with them if they do not become successful additionally we looked at a uh a change in the way we may be Distributing World Language at DEC I'm sorry grades 3 through five currently we have a Rosetta Stone solution which is a computer-based only it
084was presented before the board that we have a hybrid approach would which would include an updated version of the Rosetta Stone solution which would be web- based uh in in tandem with uh introducing uh World Language instructors in the classroom as well to augment the material that is being presented uh so we're going to move forward with that as a recommendation from the committee um and we did also adopt uh AP Physics one uh scientific research and development and sociology we never got to miscellaneous anyone else have a report Mr Masters I'm actually very happy about the Rosetta Stone because I'm very unhappy about the Rosetta Stone um I didn't have a committee meeting it was uh we had a snow day uh which my kids were excited about uh but I do have some
085uh an update on the rod grants ha for all you doubting doners out there uh one of them got approved so we just saved about $400,000 uh they're in the 1415 budget so we will see these in the future soft cost right Mike um the second one that was the windows and the hazardous material abatement um the Middle School reroof should be right we're pretty sure that's going to be approved that's another 600 grand um the tennis courts really tennis courts are not approve yet okay that's pending but that's it h great report anyone else have a report thank okay then we will go to Dr Hamilton's superintendent's report okay um before I get into my report um I was actually going to report on the rod Grant so you just saved about two minutes
086there um I also want to just clarify a couple of things I know there's some rumors circulating about changing the school calendar at this point there is no recommendation from me to the board to change the school calendar uh that of course could change depending on the weather but there is no recommendation before the board to that effect at this time as for the high school graduation we exploring the feasibility of hosting it on site in the event that an off-site venue is not secured so I just wanted to go on record for for that I understand there's been some discussion uh in the community about a calendar change and that has not been recommended um I'd also like to take this opportunity to extend my heartfelt thanks and appreciation to both Lou and Ira
087uh for their outstanding service service to the board and to the administration and for their support and the capacity of Board of Education members your presence and your contributions will be missed dearly thank you thank you uh moving on to the superintendent's report the enrollment report for um November and October and November is included in your report an addition of nine students over the last month and uh over uh 88 student increase from this time last year uh there is also correction from the October report uh we were off by one student last month U the enrollment for the outof district and homebound instruction is included in your report as well your fire drills and lockdowns are enclosed there have been two conducted at each building and accordance with uh requirements and moving on to
088the Personnel report Madame board president members of the Board of Education it is recommended by the superintendent that Personnel items a through e be approved by roll call vote so move second Mr Chella and Mr Masters any comments or questions for Dr Hamilton okay yes I have a a question on item DD uh I'm still a bit confused and all I'm looking for is just clarification on the second and third uh people listed here it appears to me that they are working the same dates uh Which is less than a full year but I don't understand why one is 48% and the other one is 66% those are two different positions uh one position we are not replacing at 100% it's a leave position we're only replacing that one at 66% the other portion of
089the other position is the balance of the 100% so there's two people filling the one FTE slot those two people that are listed there are filling the same are filling one slot is that what you're telling me they're two slots one is a maternity leave a person who is equivalent to one full-time person okay we're only replacing that person at 66% for the duration of the leave the other person is the balance of the 100% of the other position okay I I still don't understand it if they're working the same number of days two different positions but aren't they both or or the is one position presently not a full-time position they're both fulls all right so a social worker we have budgeted a social worker at 100% so that's a one full-time employee we've
090previously hired 52% of that position the this 48% is the balance of that I see okay the other position is a separate leave position for a person who is going out on maternity leave she's a 100% one full-time employee we're only replacing her at 66% okay so the first person on the list actually is along with some other person that was previously hired they're filling that full-time position correct okay fine I understand thank you Mr presiosa yes on item CC sometimes I like to vote and uh there's one or two items in the listing like on this uh non-certified staff listing I would object to only one person on that list and uh there are pars involved here bus drivers and the Web Master and the mechanic that takes care of the buses these are
091all people that take care of kids then you have somebody now that's becoming a human I'm sorry human resource coordinator uh this is a new position if I feel I don't like that position and I think it's not needed I would have to vote against people taking care of our kids no you can you can vote Yes with the exception of okay thank you anyone else okay then we'll have a roll call sorry thanks Miss antelis yes Mr Braverman yes Mr Chella yes Mr zareski yes Mr calman Mr Masters yes Mr Po yes Mr proso yes on everything but the human resource coordinator on CC so noted Mr tesler yes Mrs kapano yes Madam board president Personnel items a through e passes thank you moving on to board action items Madam board president it is
092recommended by the superintendent that board action items a through K be approved by roll call vote move second Mr Mr Chella and who was the second Mr proso comments or questions Miss sellis yes I'd like to see item K be taken separately second for that second who second that Mr she needs a motion I'll second it I I just asked if they Mr cherell did all in favor I I opposed opposed abstentions okay that motion is carried that we will do case separately so it is recommended by the superintendent that items a through J be approved by roll call vote and we have that moved by Mr and I think Mr proso seconded okay so is there any comments or questions on a through J I have a question on Jay just what what FM
093and BM on behalf of GM means oh those are students and their parent a student and his parents okay thank you anyone else Mr Masters we we kind of glanced upon this I what what is that I know it's a curriculum just what is it what's 3D art threedimensional art class Dr can you last one that's how we're going out here Mr Millie you want to talk about this particular course aens that's just we rewrote the curriculum this past summer the course has been in existence for a long okay does that answer your question uh curriculum is the curriculum is in the pending folder and deliberated it for about two months also on it I don't want to get ber it anymore any other questions then we'll have a roll call Miss anelis Mr Braverman
094yes Mr Chella yes Mr zareski yes Mr calman yes Mr Masters yes Mr Po yes Mr proso yes Mr tesler yes Mrs kapano yes madame board president board action item a through J passes unanimous and should I read item K back in for the record yes is recommended by the superintendent that board action item K be approved by roll call vote so move see so move by Mr CH I'd like to make a statement first wait we need a second I know I'm Mr cherella did you make yeah that's we get okay is there a second second second by Mr Po Mr Po can't see down there okay comments or questions Mr proso been wanting this policy for a while and this is to make sure that we have the Assurance of the public that
095we show them that they could trust us and uh this has been a problem for a long time all over the country so I I think we should put a policy in place where we should have the public trust and uh we don't have to worry about what's going to go down in the future this should have been done a long time ago instead of voting on at the last minute Mr bra if one kid was a pain in the behind in a classroom and the teacher penalized the whole class it would be wrong there might be problems in other communities throughout the state and the country but so far there hasn't been a problem here I don't think anyone can point toward us not abiding by the law this current the current policy that
096we have abides by the law and it does our due diligence these changes questions my Integrity as well as the administrators of this District in my opinion there is no reason why relatives of former board members should be penalized if they have the proper credentials for the position that they might apply for so I will be voting no for this this revision anyone else Miss I have some questions of uh the attorney uh Viola so you've you've uh worked with Mr proso on this [Music] policy I don't see that as a a correct characterization Mr dant Tellis but I was um consulted with um through the board secretary uh on on the policy there's going to be a limit can I just ask how much time you spent on this a period of time was
097spent it would be premature for me to discuss that in Open Session since uh the material hasn't been finalized if there are questions that the board wishes to ask with respect to the matter in closed session specifically with respect to legal advice I'm happy to do that but this is not in my view the appropriate form to have that conversation so it's not appropriate for the public to know how much money was spent on an attorney to review and go over this policy I think you know the answer to that question Mrs anelis after the board attorney's bills are forwarded to the board and they become public documents that material is available through Oprah um my next question is um our current policy now co uh does follow the law this new policy um does
098this open us up for any kind of litigation because we are not following the law that was set by the Department of Education I think that um you're drawing a conclusion here with respect to the uh import of the polic of this proposed policy uh and and I understand that uh this though is not the proper form for me to provide the board with advice with respect to the possibility of litigation I'd be happy to have uh the opportunity in close session to discuss legal advice only with respect to this policy or any other matter that the board deems appropriate then let let me make a more general question um if the board deviates on any policy away from the law do we open ourselves up to litigation again you're asking me to give legal
099advice in Open Session that would be inappropriate I'm not trying to avoid your question I I I think you so how about this are there any other board of education that have gone beyond the scope of this policy I don't have the answer to that question I can't tell you I just don't know so it sounds like there's a lot of unknown so we don't know if there was litigation about this if it opens it us up to litigation we don't know if other boards have done this um uh Mr Gorski I had asked a question at the policy meeting about our insurance carrier uh are you able to provide that yes I spoke to our insurance broker um from board and Pearlman insurance and he said that if this policy was successful in its
100passage it would not jeopardize any of the district's current insurance policies in place and and and you know Mrs anel I can give you um some information that that might be useful here without you know my role of course is not to comment on the uh appropriateness uh other than through legal perspective of whether or not the Board of Education should adopt any policy or take any action uh my role is limited as you know with respect to the legal piece of all of this but there is a a fundamental doctrine that that would uh permit a public body to require of itself more than the law requires it to do uh that doesn't mean that I'm taking a position on this or any other policy but to for me to um be seen as
101saying that this is either legal or illegal um would would not be appropriate again well I'm not really asking if it's legal or illegal I'm just asking if it opens us up to the Poss possbility of a lawsuit because we are not um staying within the scope of what the Department of Education has mandated and I hear I hear what you're saying what I'm what I'm saying is if you would look at this fundamental premise of the law which is that an a public entity has the ability uh to provide additional protections there's protections additional to those that are set forth in the statute whether or not the public entity wants to do that is up to the board but there is the authority uh to do it okay okay um well I think until
102I have more information about other boards whether there were litigation involving any kind of nepotism um I I can't agree with this policy um like Mr Braverman stated been on this board for over 20 years never have I seen any administrator or board appoint a board member or their family to a position that they were not qualified for I think that this policy does put into um I I I just think it kind of seems like you're you're saying that the board is going to do this and I think when you have 10 people sitting on a board watching over and a superintendent and a business administrator who have the Integrity of the people we've had not just now but in the past um I just think this is wrong I I don't know why
103why Mr maybe you can explain Mr presos you so afraid of what's I I just want to know where it's I'm not afraid of anything but you know over the years in fact I ran into the Sidler Brothers I've known them since they're in kindergarten I've seen so many teachers in our district who were students here they give so much back to the school my daughter includ actually both of my daughters included in that they love this District they want to do everything they can for it why would we peen Iz them just because their parents decided to volunteer their time to try to make a great School District so I'll be voting now Mr Chella thank you I just have a a couple questions with regard to this my first one is and it's
104a statement also but I don't understand why we we were so narrow I don't I don't disagree with the with you know with what this policy is trying to do do uh I just like to you know I to start that off I don't have any family members who are you know who work in the district or who are teachers or anything like that but so it wouldn't apply to me or my family but I want to know why board members were left off of this because it's it's not okay to hire a family member of a board member but yet a board member could walk off this board and then get a job so I'd like I'd like to see that looked at again so you know for that reason I think we should
105look at it the other thing is too is that there have been a lot of things that have gone back and forth I've heard various board members who have uh family members who uh work for the district called part-time board members because uh they they can't participate in negotiations now the way I read this policy it states that any anyone who is has a relative that's a teacher in the state would be barred from negotiating from barred from the negotiations committee is that correct by and for of clarification Mr cherella according to this policy a board member would also be restricted from getting a job in this district for a year and I I I just don't see that in the policy though I don't see where it says a board member as a matter
106of law Mr CH as a matter of law a former board member can't be employed by a board of education for a period of six months this is this policy is I understand that is seeking to extend that uh but again I make no comment on the the value of the policy or the Merit of the policy but rather uh its construction but you asked the question about whether or not someone who uh has a relative and a member let me let me paraphrase what I think was the question you'll correct me if I get it wrong uh who is a me who has a relative a close member of an immediate family or other relative are recognized uh as such under the school ethics act to participate in negotiations with the labor unit if
107that person's relative is defined in the statute as a member of the same Statewide Union is that the question yes yeah you can't under the um construction of the school ethics act uh articulated by the school ethics commission that person would not be able to participate in at the table in negotiations what that person can do again if it's if it's not the local unit but rather the same Statewide Union that person can vote on the memorandum of agreement but not get information about that memorandum of agreement until the evening uh or day uh when the board of education is going to be asked to vote on the particular uh uh contract and again that comes from our school ethics commission okay um we we mentioned earlier I I know there were some comments made
108about taing t you know tabling the mtaa contract and so that a new board could look at it I I I'm not comfortable voting on this until I could see those stipulations I Madam president I'm looking you know I'm reading the I'm reading this and I don't and I don't see where it specifically says a board member cannot have a job here um so I I would like that added and I think that this should be tabled so that we could discuss this in policy further and then come back to the board with a comprehensive policy that I could vote on are you making a motion to table I'm making a motion to table yes is there a second to that motion I'll second it Miss analis This is a roll call yes is there
109any comments or questions in regard to tabling if not then we'll take a roll Mr Mr Coffman then here tonight that's closing the discussion on this yes something I wanted to say and if I agree to the tabling then I can't say anything you just changed Speak oh we then speak now or forever hold your okay so real quickly I won't take long Mr proso does this policy that we have been handed represent what you're looking for right now it does yes right now it does so what does that mean it took me a year just to get this to this board so it took you a year to get a couple of lines in no get one couple lines this is what it this policy includes board members and family members of the board
110and up to a year okay so when before this meeting uh did the the idea or the discussion of uh board members who were no longer on the board come up in policy committee meeting when did that happen before you questioning me is this a point of order he can ask you a question sure and what would you like to know okay I'll say it again when before the last policy meeting Mr Mr cofman could you please use your microphone and maybe we can hear better when before the last policy meeting did this topic of former board members and the year delay before one of their family members can apply for a position when did that come up quite a while ago quite a while ago specifically I don't remember the times you don't remember
111so is there a problem with this well I I'll get it I'll get to it well yeah I got a couple things written on it so I would agree with some of the other things that were mentioned here before uh one of the concerns I have specifically is in the beginning section we talk about board members and superintendent so I want to make sure that you know as you said before this represents basically what you're looking for now you're okay with an assistant superintendent or any of the principles to have somebody hire because that falls outside the scope of what's named up here yes you're you're okay with that yeah okay so then next question is will be tabled I don't know what that means but um the second item here on the SEC on
112the paragraph for it starts no relative a board member or superintendent there's a second item in here I want to make sure because you said this represents exactly what you want or close to it and I'm I'm really reading it in depth this time too can somebody explain how this is okay superintend please bear with me um this is exclusion of exclusionary of this prohibition shall not apply with respect to the hiring of the superintendent of schools such that a candidate for this for the position of superintendent of schools shall not be disqualified from holding the position of superintendent of schools because his or her relative is employed by the Board of Education by the board on the date he or she becomes superintendent because if you're going to relook at this I I don't
113know how this ever got in here because as soon as they got hired then they would be an exclusion of the policy that doesn't make sense to me at all so um I would tend to agree with the idea of taking a look at this again uh because this really is not representative of if you're doing a nepotism policy as was mentioned earlier I think we really need to see what other districts are putting in their nepotism policy because I don't think it would be in our best interest to go over or below uh because of some of the things that were mentioned here previously but clearly this this needs work I think and um these are just some of the things that I I just thought of Serenia comments or questions before we decide
114to table well I have some comments I don't know if they they are relative to the tabling motion but they're relative to this discussion we table that the comments are over excuse me once we table we can't go back to the original motion right is that that's so is so can I comment now or okay um Madam president I I I have a couple of comments and one is that I believe that much of the policy that we're looking at uh much of that policy is the original mandated policy of the state and I I can't say this for certain but possibly uh uh Miss lordy could could clarify this I I think the matter that was raised about the superintendent a superintendent being hired uh if if there were a a relative in the
115district already employed I think that's actually discussed in the state's policy that is not part of this revision that's always been there that's part of the policy we've had in the past if I'm not mistaken uh the the other point I want to make is uh we we adopt and Revis policies all the time we almost do it every month and yet I have never heard our being concerned about litigation every policy that a board has litigation can be brought up on it if a parent wants to uh so do that I don't see that that's a valid reason uh in considering the the adoption of a policy or the revision of a policy uh uh a great concern about litigation of course you know you you're going to turn to your board's attorney for
116their advice on that but uh what amazes me is that the question never arose on any of the other policies that we've adopted since I've been on the board or since I've been attending board meetings for three or four years so so that concerns me uh the other point that I want to make is we had a policy and I think the revision was an attempt to strengthen that policy to make it stronger and yet some of the comments that I've heard appear to be comments uh you know that that don't want to make it a stronger policy a better policy so those are my comments on this I just want to add them because everybody else is commenting but but those are my comments about this some of these things I've heard heard just
117don't quite seem reasonable to me thank you anyone else Mr Mr Masters there there was a policy for IAQ that we did discuss L possible litigation we when we were talking about removing IQs and stuff like that um you might not have been on the board yet but that's one I remember because it's the air quality and it's one of the things that was on my nice little plaque um that's what I get so just before we table because I'm really confused um what Tom said before and I did say that um I was wondering if this was a reaction to something because I'm not on policy I'm the alternate so I was coming in kind of uh blind not blind but I have to um catch up real fast so when I was trying
118and I'm still confused that's why when I was trying to get I guess um what was going on with this this policy uh which is what I asked with most of them and I was told apparent and this is what happened they sub an ad hoc subcommittee on nepotism was formed um and VI either helped rewrite or rewrote the nepotism policy to make it stronger which is fine U and again this is why I'm a little confused um I was also and this was discussed at policy that it was originally a three-year but I think you had determined that would have been overly discriminatory yeah M Mr Masters I think it's apprpriate to have this conversation in Open Session okay I cannot comment on any advice that was given to the board and my my
119the absence of my comment should not be understood by anyone to mean I either gave or did not give that advice okay anyone else okay seeing uh no more questions then we will have a um a roll call to um table this policy and bring it back to the policy committee this is a motion to table the revisions to the nepotism policy motion was made by Mr Chella seconded by Miss anelis Miss antelis yes Mr Braverman no Mr Braverman you're voting no to table so noted Mr Chella yes Mr zareski yes Mr calman yes Mr Masters yes Mr Po no Mr presio so no Mr tesler yes Mrs kapano yes madame board president motion to table passes that concludes a discussion on the nepotism policy okay thank you very much okay and I guess that
120concludes your report that concludes the superintendent's report and we will go to the business administrator's report Mr Gorski thank you Madame board president and members of the Monro Township Board of Education it is recommended that board action items a through n be approved by consent roll call some Mr Masters second second by Mr tesler comments or questions for Mr Gorski none we will have a roll call Miss antelis yes Mr Braverman yes Mr Chella yes Mr zareski yes Mr calman yes Mr Masters yes Mr poy yes Mr presos yes Mr tesler yes Mrs kapano yes madame board president board action items a through n passes and if I have a a moment please I would like to acknowledge um sure from my perspective as business administrator board secretary that it's been my my pleasure and
121privilege to work with Mr Tesla and Mr Masters over the years I've worked longer with Mr tell M Mr tesler going back about 12 years uh with the work that he generously contributed to the Monroe Education Foundation and through his alternate on the finance committee he's a very generous um big-hearted individual who is very intelligent and offers very good Solutions on difficult problems and Mr Masters also through our collaboration on building grounds and transportation has made the district's facility safer and better for students so I will miss both of you thank you that concludes my report okay board president's report is going to be very very short ir and I would like to wish everybody a very happy holiday a wonderful winter break and the best for good health and happiness in 2014 um Other
122Board of Education business is there anybody who would like Mr Mr cherella yes I just wanted to take this opportunity just to uh talk a moment about our policy with regards to how we award our our students whether they be in football or band or whatever and I know this is a Hot Topic tonight but I had planned to make this to just to talk about this um I I really think that we really need to revise our policies and take a look at this so that all the all of our children are treated fairly and equitably and and the same uh football or baseball or cheerleading doesn't have anything up on on ban for instance and I'm only bringing that up as a because this is before us today but I really think we
123need to look at that I don't know I don't even know how we came up with policies that have different designations for different groups but I think if we're if we're if we're talking about being open and honest and fair then we also need to show our students that we're going to be open honest and and fair so I don't I don't know I don't know what that means or what that would look like but I'm just imploring the board to just go back look at these and and and come up with with h policies that make sense but treat everyone equally thank you thank you anyone else Mr Kaufman yeah sure uh I also wanted to duve T on what Ken was um saying about the uh the policy for the uh uh the
124marching band as it relates to the marching band specifically um I also took a look at the policy when it was shared with the board on the way it sits and this is another example of a pre-existing policy that really needs to be taken a look at the fact that we disseminate different types of sporting events by category is is really uh not The Honorable way to do things things you know take out the designation for each individual sport roll it up to the common denominator call it a day and let's go home um the next point I wanted to bring up is this is our last meeting before the reorg did it last year um I would like to know from my own personal edification uh who's planning to run for president it's not
125me I was thinking about [Music] it do we have a show of hands for is anybody planning to run for president in January Miss K anybody else Mr zareski other than Mr s so that's it just Kathy anybody planning to run for vice president again you you're killing me come on anyone else again not me I Tred nothing berer berer okay okay that's it is there any other business from any member of the Board of Education couple of comments uh Madame President um and I make this comment because in the past I think before I became a board member uh possibly even after I became a board member uh I questioned the expenditure on challenge day uh this was an event a three-day event at the high school uh where we had to bring in
126people uh from California we had to pay for their airfare and we had to pay for the fee uh so when I uh when the board was invited to participate in challenge day I said uh since I have questioned it then I I have to to actually go and see what it's all about uh Dr Gorman warned me that if I was going to do it I needed to participate for a full day because it's a full day activity uh so since I'm retired I could afford to do that and so I spent last Friday uh in the auxiliary gym of Monroe Township High School with about 120 to 130 uh grade n through grade 12 students uh along with some of the teachers that had volunteered to participate in this activity and uh essentially
127uh board members together Lisa is here uh don't have one Brain Cell between them that's my above all favorite derogatory comment that's ever been said about us um so yeah I really don't care but don't you dare dispar my wife and I'm hearing a lot of negative stuff I don't stand for it I don't care about me you could say whatever you want about me she worked way too hard on what she does with the special ed kids to deserve what's being said about her in town if you have a problem with me yes Nelson you're going to start over talking me like you do on everything you've been doing that for the last three meetings and I'm kind of sick of it I have the floor okay with your harassment you're talking about me
128yeah Mr Masters has Mr M excuse me ex excuse me I'm asking you to I'm asking you to please be quiet Mr master has the floor master master Mr Masters are you done Mr Master no I'm not done actually I'm waiting for you gentlemen l so it it belittles you I'm just telling you I'm giving you some advice when you do stuff like that it Littles you um it casts a dark shadow over you and if you're trying to get something across something that's very good the nepotism policy I don't really have a problem with it um but when you start bringing in personalities and people's family members and children and stuff like that this is what happens okay so again if you have a problem with me I don't care come talk to me
129just don't you dare disparage my wife or my family I'm done anyone else wishing to speak Miss anelis on a different subject I'd like to talk about the high school graduation um quite a few years ago we were out at the B at the football field up on the stage Kathy and I handing out diplomas when a big black cloud came out of nowhere opened up on everybody pouring rain that graduation was rued for those students and it was red for their parents um to have it inside of our new high school that means people are sitting on the bleachers with no backs I wouldn't want my grandmother sitting on the bleachers much less having to climb up them high heels on the gym floor this is not the venue for graduation graduation from high
130school only happens to a student once we should make it the best they it can be for them not just for them for their parents for their grandparents their brothers their sisters having it inside starts to mean tickets people get angry we need a different venue and I would urge Dr Hamilton and the board to really look for a facility that can fit a lot of people and not this High School anyone else have any comments or questions okay seeing none where we going the Clos session resolution be resolved that the Board of Education of excuse me I'm sorry oh of the township of Monroe hereby moves to go into Clos session in accordance with the Sunshine Law chapter 231 of the public laws of 1975 njsa 10 col 4-6 through 10 col 4-21 to
131discuss the following subjects Personnel matters to receive attorney advice in regards to the proposed labor contract with the mtea sexual um student matters harassment intim imation and bullying incidents 14 through 22 the discussion conducted in closed session can be discussed to the public at such time as the matters have been resolved I need a motion move Mr tiella Mr Masters all in favor I opposed extensions and at this time the board will move into closed session which will be where M where me H long School administrators Association for the period of July 1st 2014 through July 30th 2017 Mo MOA the board president and the business administrator uh board secretary are hereby authorized and directed to sign a collective negotiation incorporating the terms of the mo MOA Additionally the business administrator board secretary is hereby
132authorized and directed to take all necessary steps to implement the action of the Board of Education dated December 18th 2013 Sarah second second second by Mr Masters any comments or questions okay seeing none we'll have a roll call Mr St Gorski yes Miss anelis um she's recused Mr Braverman no Mr Chella yes um as a matter of Statute the receiving district is not eligible to vote on this Mr calman be okay Mr Masters yes Mr poy yes Mr proso yes Mr tesler yes Mrs col Pano yes madame board president Collective negotiations agreement with the Monro Township administrators Association passes thank [Music] you okay at this time we will go to the public forum anyone wishing to speak please come to the microphone state your name and address for the record Brian Hackett 3 Avenue D
133um I know we will we will adhere to our three minute time limit I know it's getting late but uh there was an important issue that I wanted to uh bring up to the board and confirm whether it was true or not um I'm active in the community and a couple parents had um talked to me about uh something going on whether it was an Applegarth or oak tree or both I'm not sure uh but one of them said it may have come from the principal or the PTA something about uh Merry Christmas and holiday parties are not being observed or allowed anymore fortunately we have the principal um of Applegarth here this evening Mr ventrell you okay with um I know I'm putting you on the spot but if you could address that you
134know just people say things and before I comment I'd like to know what was true you should just beare Mr ventell could you please come to the microphone Merry Christmas thank you uh what we had is that we have you know obviously a lot of diversity on our side of town between oak tree and apple Guard School there has to be a recognition of the numbers of uh kids that come from different religious backgrounds as we do that I think the board certainly through the curriculum and through their own recognition Etc is that there's always that acknowledgement recognition that there are so many people so many different religions Etc uh there's no no religion is being borred this was a case as far as well what do you call the Holiday party now with so
135many different backgrounds religions uh religions and ethnic groups uh cultures Etc the safe way to go obviously has always been for public education anyway has been basically just to say when to break went to party Etc we actually say holiday uh a decision of mine as I was confronted by a couple of parents as a matter of fact was that was there a religious affiliation through the word holiday I assured the parents that there was not but obviously these parents are not of the Christian persuasion they're not of the Jewish persuasion and they have their holidays as well too but they wanted to know if their children would parti participate in this particular holiday part party is there somehow there's a religious affiliation I assure them there was not little by little though is that
136you know through uh feedback with parents Etc and communication is that I went back from winter break we changed it back to Winter Holiday which I thought was a compromise but somehow that got perceived as that red and green uh kids were obviously that Mar they were not allowed to say marry Christmas uh so just a lot of absurdities that were being passed around it's like playing telephone like we do when we kids by time you got it by time you got your information I hate to say but it was completely absurd incorrect so if you feel free if you want to have this conversation another time but obviously is that all of the religions are recognized here in Monroe the curriculum recognizes it we don't teach to one religion but we do teach a
137lot about all the religions is what we do all the kids can say Merry Christmas they can say happy Hanukkah they can say happy Ramadan whatever they want to say they can say that does that answer your question yes I like great you're welcome okay to say with with my experience growing up in the town uh born and raised here going through all the schools All My Life um I remember Hanukkah recognitions and Christmas celebrations and uh a teacher or a class or a school uh didn't refrain from calling something a Christmas party or uh having an event of that sort everybody kind of just respected it um and even calling it a winter break or winter celebration I think you know it it's it's a point of hyper sensitivity or political correctness that uh
138I think we could really do without um and and I think speaking about Merry Christmas or happy Hanukkah it enriched my experience as a student having my class Christmas party the teacher called it a Christmas party people didn't get offended and I I recognize a diversity that's coming into the town so let's recognize their holidays too I I I I mean it's really I just think this hyper hyper sensitivity iCal correctness is toxic and dangerous um because it goes to the point where we're not recognizing some for the sake of not offending and walking on eggshells for others so that's it thank you thank you anyone else uh Richard Gibbons uh 415 Schoolhouse Road uh I'm going to say something similar what Brian had said and I was at the policy meeting on Monday night
139and the seemed like the board was very meticulous about adhering to State policy in regards to nepotism um the health situation uh school property being rented out teacher evaluations even to the point excuse me one of the ladies had said you know we have to be very uh careful that we're not open to lawsuits and Mr P to his credit had even brought up the words may and shall to try to clarify some of that he said maybe we should clarify some of the language which is good but then when you get down and I had heard about this uh this calling these parties winter parties at church on Sunday morning uh apparently somebody had emailed the pastor and and so that's how I had heard about it and I don't think it's I think
140the board should really uh notify the schools and say you should change this back to Christmas parties because after all it is Christmas time and I think that if the board or the schools are going to make policy based on people how people are offended or insulted I think that's a bad way to make policy because when you're doing other policy you base it on state law because if we're going to make policy based on how people are offended well guess what um every time I get my tax bill and I see the school tax I'm highly offended so therefore maybe craft a letter tonight and just say that going in the future we won't be raising the school taxes because I'm highly offended so I don't think that but I don't think that's a
141good way to go I think you should base it on on the Constitution which says we have freedom of religion not freedom from religion thank you thank you Mark Klein seven crunch your court um blue Ira it was a pleasure working with you in my term on the board you gave your all you did your best and there's always another year as far as Lou Masters I got to say you did a fabulous fabulous job going to the meetings at middle sex County Education Services Commission you at least attended the meetings your predecessor did not she was at perhaps one or two meetings and that comes right from the head um the $2 million Grant in the newspaper there was grant money that we're receiving for 2 point something million where is he there he
142is 2 point something million to go towards improvements so as I complained about the three years that I was on the board and even after the board is we have to get grant money we have to get grant money we got to get grant money don't answer anything until I finish qu she's going to keep me to 3 minutes and that doesn't count cuz I had to explain so that that a start but Oldbridge again wind up getting almost $5 million we have what three schools that need roofs we got appleo that needs a furnace amongst other work expansions expansion in this school something at the high school as far as the parents who complained about uh board members being either without children in the schools I served on the board those of you that
143followed me Mr treated I treated it as if it was my own children I voted as if it was my own children so by saying that you have to have members on the board that have children that's ridiculous um also to the parents you have two big developments one's got preliminary approval one is now in the courts because it was turned down one is 500 condo and apartments the other is 700 the marketplace 749 condos and apartments if it's over a, th kids in this school district which is already overcrowded now tuition reimbursement this came up two years ago about tuition spoke about it while I was on the board there was supposed to be um uh a rule whatever you want to call it to cover that now it's 2 years later the Hors
144is out of the bondn you spent I think it was7 $770,000 well above anything we ever paid so yeah it's two years late but the horse is gone um as far as Michael Klein Michael Klein was at the end he was number 12 he received 900 votes so your fellow sister on the board who pushed him took votes away from both of you because I guarantee I'm not blowing my own horn I guarantee the bulk of the 900 thought it was Mark mine so your member shot you both down lastly thank you Mr kin lastly I'm sorry I sold my home no I'm done I sold my home cuz I got I'm getting taxed out of my home so I sold the house I moved into a smaller house with half the taxes and I
145thank you very much and I wish everybody here a happy New Year thank you Mr kle a merry Christmas and a happy Hanukah thank you Mr Klein Han's done I know I'm Joe hoki 61 Hoffman Road uh IRA and Lou I spent 12 years on the board I know how you feel okay I'd like to congratulate Tom Michelle and Lou for being elected to the board but what I want to say is I I spent 12 years on the board four years as president and it made no difference whether somebody had children or not in the school during my 12 years I had Amy who's not here right now Marvin was there Kathy was there Lou was there and Ira and every time we made decision it was always in the best interest of the
146kids and I'm confident that's the way it's been and that's the way it's going to be in the future so all I can say is it's not an issue to be debated because when board members become board members they all are there for a reason and they're all trying to do the best for the kids that we have in Monroe Township and again I wish everybody a very nice holiday Christmas and whatever you celebrate thank you Mr hok anyone else from the public okay seeing no one um we will close the public forum our next scheduled public Board of Education meeting which is our reorganization meeting Thursday January 2nd 2014 7:00 p.m. at the high school motion to adjourn motion to adjourn Mr tesler who would like to be second Mr M second by Mr
147Masters all in favor opposed extensions meeting is adjourned