001Okay, here we go. I call this meeting to order of the mountain of the Mountain Lakes Board of Education to be held on Monday, January 25th, 2026 at 6:30 here at Mountain Lakes High School. >> January 25th. >> Perfect. Good job. >> January 5th, just to make sure I said that correct. January 5th, 2026. Thank you. At this time, I will read the statement of adequate notice. The New Jersey Open Public Meetings Law was enacted to ensure the right of the public to have advanced notice and to attend the meetings of public bodies at which any business affecting their interests is discussed or acted upon. In accordance with the provisions of this act, the Mountain Lakes Board of Education has caused notice of this meeting to be published by having the date, time, and place
002thereof posted in the Mountain Lakes Municipal Building and sent to the following newspapers, the Daily Record, the Citizen, and the District website. I ask that everyone join me and stand for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. [snorts] >> Thank you. At this time, I'm going to read into the record the certification of annual election. Be it further resolved that the Mountain Lakes Board of Education has a statement of determination dated November 17th, 2025 of the 2025 school election as certified by the Morris County Board of Elections made part of the annual organization meeting minutes for three separate three-year terms. We have Joanne Barkowskis with a total
003of 1480 votes. James Hersshfeld with 1422 votes. Lawrence Laura Silva McIntyre, 1466 votes and 152 writeins. At this point, I will ask each individual to join me at the podium one at a time for our oath of office. And we will begin with Joanne Brooks. >> Like here. >> Okay. Thank you. It's already after me. I, Joanne Barkowskis, >> I, Joanne Barkowskis, >> do solemnly swear or affirm >> that I support the Constitution of the United States >> that I support the Constitution of the United States >> and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey >> and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey >> and that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same and that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same and to the governments
004established in the United States and the state. and to the governments established in the United States and in the state >> under the authority of the people. >> So help me God. I, Joanne Barkowskis, >> I, Joanne Barkowskis, >> do solemnly swear or affirm >> do solemnly swear >> that I possess the qualifications prescribed by law >> that I possess the qualifications prescribed by law >> for the office of member of a board of education >> for the office of member of a board of education >> and that I am not disqualified as a voter pursuant to 19 col4-1 >> and that I am not disqualified as a voter pursuant to RS194-1 nor disqualified due to conviction of a crime or offense. nor disqualified due to conviction of a crime or offense >> listed in
005NJSA18A12-1 or disqualified due to the conviction of a crime or offense listed in NJS18A12-1 and that I will faithfully impartially and justly and that I will faithfully impartially and justly perform all the duties of that office perform all the duties of that office according to the best of my ability. according to the best of my ability. >> So help me God. Congratulations. >> Thank you so much. Thank you. >> Thank you. And I call James Hersville. >> You got this. I'll read and read. >> CH. >> Yeah, that's fine. You can read the whole thing. >> My credit card. >> I, James Hersshfeld. Oh, I, James Hersshfeld, >> do solemnly swear or affirm >> do solemnly affirm >> that I will support the Constitution of the United States >> that I will support the Constitution
006of the United States >> and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey. >> and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey. >> And that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same. >> And that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same. and to the governments established in the United States and this state. >> and and to the governments established in the United States and this state >> under the authority of the people. >> So help me God. >> Help me God. I, James Hersshfeld, >> I, James Hersshfeld, >> do solemnly swear or affirm >> do solemnly affirm >> that I possess the qualifications prescribed by law >> that I possess the qualifications prescribed by law >> for the office of member of a board of education >> for
007the office of member of a board of education >> and that I am not disqualified as a voter pursuant to RS194-1 [snorts] >> and that I am not disqualified as a voter pursuant to RS194-1 >> nor disqualified due to conviction of a crime or offense, >> nor disqualified due to conviction of a crime or offense, >> listed in NJSA 18A12-1. >> Uh um listed in NJS18A12-1. >> And that I will faithfully impartially and justly perform all the duties of that office. >> And that I will faithfully [laughter] impartially and justly perform all the duties of that office >> according to the best of my ability. So help me God. >> Congratulations. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you. Last but not least, Laura Silvin McIntyre. Repeat after me. I, Lawrence Silva McIntyre >> I,
008Lauren Silva McIntyre, >> do solemnly swear or affirm >> do solemnly swear >> that I will support the Constitution of the United States >> that I will support the Constitution of the United States >> and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey >> and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey >> and that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same >> and that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same >> and to the governments established in the United States and this state >> and to the governments established in the United States and this state >> under the authority [clears throat] authority of the people. >> under the authority of the people. >> So help me God. >> I, Lawrence Silva McIntyre, >> I, Lauren Silva McIntyre, >>
009do solemnly swear or [snorts] >> do solemnly swear >> that I possess the qualifications prescribed by law >> that I possess the qualifications prescribed by law >> for the office of member of a board of education >> for the office of member of a board of education. >> And that I am not disqualified as a voter pursuant to RS194-1. and that I am not disqualified as a voter pursuant to RS194-1. >> Nor disqualified due to conviction of a crime or offense listed in NJSA18 [snorts] 12-2.1. >> Nor disqualified due to conviction of a crime or offense listed in NJS18A12-1. >> And that I will faithfully, impartially, and justly perform all the duties of that office. and that I will faithfully, impartially, and justly perform all the duties of that office >> according to the best
010of my ability. >> So help me God. >> Congratulations. >> Thank you. Thank you everyone as congratulations to all. And now moving along I am going to continue with the roll call. >> We'll do pictures afterwards in the break. [laughter] >> Coming close to break. >> Coming close. Yeah. >> Basketball practice. >> Okay. Going in alphabetical order for roll call please. Mrs. Belowskis >> present. >> Mr. Chang, >> Dr. Dawn >> here. >> Mrs. Foreman >> here. >> Dr. Hersshfeld >> here. >> Mr. Johnson, >> Mrs. Kcarnney >> here. >> Mrs. Parker >> here. >> Dr. Sheth >> here. >> Dr. Si McIntyre >> here. >> Thank you. Okay. At this point, I'm going to open the floor to the board members for nominations for the office of board president. >> Do we just yell
011it out? >> You can call it out. [laughter] >> I nominate Mrs. Barkowskis. >> I was going to do it. I'll second. [laughter] I had a whole speech. I'll second. >> Thank you. [clears throat] [laughter] >> Do we have any other nominations? Seeing none, I will close nominations for president and roll call for the position of board president. Joanne Barkowskis nominated and I'll begin roll call. Mrs. Barkowskis, >> I'm going to abstain. >> Oh, come on, Joanne. >> Mr. Ch. Dr. Don, >> yes. >> Mrs. Foreman, >> yes. >> Dr. Hersb, >> yes. >> Mr. Johnson, Mrs. Kcarnney, >> yes. >> Mrs. Parker, >> yes. >> Dr. Chef, >> yes. >> Dr. Silva McIntyre, >> yes. >> Congratulations, Mrs. BURKOWIS. >> Would you like to continue? >> Yep. >> Okay. >> So, I will open
012the floor again now for nominations for the position of board vice president. >> I nominate Mrs. Parker. >> I'll second it. >> [laughter] >> Thank you. >> I was going to do it and he stole my thunder. >> He's He's into that tonight. [laughter] That's his thing. >> Do we have any other nominations? >> He's outnumbered by the women though. >> Yeah. All the men are out tonight. >> Seeing none, [laughter] I will close the nominations for vice president and move to roll call for Jen Parker as vice president. Beginning roll call. Mrs. Barkowskis. Yes, >> Dr. Don. >> Yes, >> Mrs. Foreman. >> Yes, >> Dr. Hersfeld. >> Yes, >> Mrs. Colcarnney. >> Yes, >> Mrs. Parker. >> I will abstain, >> Dr. Sh. Sorry, Dr. Sh. >> Oh, yes. Sorry, >> Dr. Si
013McIntyre. >> Yes. >> Congratulations, Mrs. PARKER. >> NOW, before we take a quick break, Jen, would you like to say anything about just >> Oh, just >> right now. >> Just thank you. >> No, I'm good. >> You want to change any comments before? >> Sure. May I say one thing? >> All right. To to the board, um, this is absolutely a partnership. I say all the time, we're a voting body of 10. And the work we do, we do together. One of the best parts of the work we do are the people we get to support in this district. The MLA, the MLEA, recognizing their work with our parents and for our students. That's why we sit here. That's why we serve. We get to support people like our teachers and our administrators and
014our members of central office. We serve this place because we do good for kids. So, we do that together. So, tonight, these votes are just a continuation of our good work. So, thank you for that because we have a lot to do and I love that we do it together. So, thank you. >> All right. Wonderful. Now, a quick break. Oh, wait. No. Um, Mrs. Dunn, do you want to give if you have a report because our exec's going to be long. Do you have anything comments this evening as >> Okay. That way you don't have to if you don't want to wait. >> Well, it was Dr. Seagull's good idea. I give him credit. >> Um, as we begin the new year on behalf of the MLEA, I would like to wish everybody a
015happy new year. Um, we hope you all enjoyed um, your break, that it was restful. Um, it was certainly welld deserved. Um, I would like to congratulate Miss Barakowskis, um, as you continue serving as board president and Mr. Parker, um, as you continue in your vice president role this year. We look forward to continuing our work together and appreciate your leadership and your commitment to our schools. Um, as we do for all board members, um, we look forward to a productive and collaborative year ahead. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Now would be a good time to take a break. Quick few minutes. Okay. Thank you everyone. Going to >> exact. Oh, we can go right into exact. We can take a picture and then go into exact if you like. >> All right. >>
016So, should we do you want to read the motion to go into exact? >> Certainly. Smart idea. >> Okay. >> So, moving into executive session be resolved that the Mountain Lakes Board of Education enter into executive session. And we will need a first >> and a second. >> Second. >> Yes. that the board of education adopt the following resolution uh that was approved at 646 be resolved by the Mountain Lakes Board of Education on this 5th day of January at uh 646. The board shall recess to close session in accordance with the open public meetings law NJSA 10 col 4-12B 1 2 67 and 8. the general nature of this discussion, including matters of personal confidentiality rights, including but not limited to staff and/or student discipline matters. And specifically, these matters will be disclosed to
017the public as soon as the need for confidentiality no longer applies. Although the board cannot guarantee it, the length of the executive session is estimated to be 60 minutes after which the public meeting of the board shall reconvene and proceed with business, action may take place. This resol resolution shall take effect immediately. Oh, and we are >> okay. >> Ready for >> second like now. >> Okay, we need a motion to leave the executive session. >> We have Dr. Hersfeld. We have Dr. Chef. Thank you very much. All say I. >> I. And we leave executive session. Come back to public session at 8:15. Um, so I'm sorry for the delay, but I promised we were doing good work for the district. So, Mountain Lake student report or student comments. >> Xname, >> not at
018this time. Okay. Um, I already made my uh comments and we heard from the MLA co-presidents, which was wonderful. Any comments from the public on agenda items? Not at this time. Okay. Um then we move on to information about our reorganization meeting. We have the code of ethics for schoolboard members listed in our agenda. What we need to do is if each person says one part of that and we just go around. We need to affirm that collectively. So um with that in mind, Dr. Don, would you mind starting with the first part of the code of ethics? Dr. Hersshfeld, then you'll read the second one and we'll just go right around. Is that okay? >> Sure. >> All right. Dr. Don. Sir, um I will uphold and enforce all laws, rules, and regulations of
019the state board of education and court orders pertaining to schools. Desired changes shall be brought about only through legal and ethical procedures. >> I will make decisions in terms of the educational welfare of children and will seek to develop and maintain public schools that meet the individual needs of all children regardless of their ability, race, creed, sex, or social standing. I will confine my board action to policym, planning, and appraisal, and I will help frame policy and plans only after the board has consulted those who will be affected by them. I will carry out my responsibility not to administer the schools, but together with my fellow board members to see that they are wellrun. I will recognize that that authority rests with the board of education and will make no personal promises nor take any
020private action that may compromise the board. I will refuse to surrender my independent judgment to special interest or partisan political groups or to use the schools for personal gain or the gain of friends. I will hold confidential all matters pertaining to the schools which if disclosed would needlessly injure um injure um individuals or the schools. In all other matters, I will provide accurate information and in concert with my fellow board members interpret to the staff the aspirations of the community for its school. >> I will vote to appoint the best qualified personnel available after consideration of the recommendation of the chief administrative officer. I will support and protect school personnel in proper form uh performance of their duties. >> I will refer all complaints to the chief administrative officer and will act on the complaints
021at public meetings only after failure of an administrative solution. So thank you everyone. It's always good to reaffirm those rules of ethics that guide us in our work. Um we move on then it is also school board recognition month. So, do we have to read all of that? We we read every single part of that. >> Well, we read it for you. >> Oh, okay. Go. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Okay. >> Our our uh promp BA is going to >> Thank you. >> Secretary. >> All right. So, an acknowledgement of school board recognition month whereas the New Jersey school boards association has declared January 2026 to be school board recognition month, a time when all residents can acknowledge the contributions made by our local school board members. And whereas the Mountain Lakes Board of Education
022is one of 581 local school boards in New Jersey, which sets policies and oversees operations for public school districts. And whereas the Mountain Lakes Board of Education embraces the goal of highquality education for all New Jersey public school students. And whereas New Jersey's local school boards help determine the educational goals for approximately 1.4 million children in preK through 12th grade. And whereas New Jerseyy's 5,000 local schoolboard members who receive no rem rumin re remiration >> remmeration for their services act as advocates for public school students as they work with administrators, teachers and parents for the betterment of public education. And whereas school boards are strive to provide the resources necessary to meet the needs of all students including those with special needs. And whereas board boards of education provide accountability to the public. They communicate
023the needs of the stu school district to the public and they convey to school administrators the public's expectations for the schools. And whereas New Jersey can take pride in its schools which rank among the nation's best in key achievement indicators such as the national assessment of educational progress scores in the preparation for college through adv advanced placement offerings and SAT assessments. Now therefore be resolved that Mount Link's Board of Education does hereby recognize the services of local B local school board members throughout New Jersey as we join communities statewide in observing January 2026 as school board recognition month and be have further resolved that Mountain Lakes Board of Education urges all New Jersey citizens to work with their local boards of education and public school staff toward the advancement of our children's education and recommended
024as recommended by the superintendent. That's pretty darn great. Thank you. >> Great. >> Do you carry on with the rest? >> Yeah, I I'll take over the rest. Um, we have uh number three uh resolution to appoint a delegate uh and an alternative to the Morris County School Boards Association. We are also looking to approve parliamentary procedures. There's a slight uh change just in the year uh from the original copy to 2026 on the last uh part of the sentence. >> We have uh all of our authorized uh signatures and uh some annual appointments here uh some of which here are unusual. We have Mr. Reesi as the acting board secretary. Um we have our author authorized signatures as our board president, our treasurer and our consulting uh consultant who's working with us in the
025BA capacity. We have our bank, our district attorney, our architect and official newspapers of record. Um all up for approval. Um and you see that here under number six. Under number seven, it's the approval of the Strauss Esbay policy and regulation manual. Um and then uh number eight we have our doctrine necessity um related to the school ethics act. So uh that concludes all of the uh motions that are on the agenda. >> Thank you very much. Um we move on. Is there any unfinished business? >> I think we have to approve those. Oh, I'm sorry. Uh okay, then we need a first. We have Mrs. Foreman in a second. We have Dr. Sheek. Thank you very much. Any objections to hearing these motions together? Any comments or questions at this time? >> I have
026a brief comment on number six with the meeting calendar. I just wanted to thank Miss Julie Lavine for always putting those calendars in or those dates and committee meetings into our calendar and that they populate and we can all stay organized. And I just want to say I really appreciate >> that. It's a big >> second. THERE'S SO MUCH MORE THAT YOU DO. [applause and cheering] >> THERE'S SO MUCH MORE THAT YOU DO, BUT THAT just really helps me. [laughter] >> I don't flooded with emails tomorrow with calendar. [laughter] >> Anyone else? >> Okay, then. Roll call, please. >> Mrs. Barowskis, >> yes. >> Dr. Don, >> yes. >> Mrs. Foreman, >> yes. >> Dr. Hersshfeld, >> yes. >> Mr. Johnson, Mrs. Mrs. Cole Carney, >> yes. >> Mrs. Parker, >> yes. >> Dr. Chef,
027>> yes. >> Dr. Silva McIntyre, >> yes. >> Thank you. Motion passes. >> Okay. Thank you. Any unfinished business at this time? Any new business at this time? Dr. Hersfeld, >> I'd like to talk about the committee structure. >> Good. What would you like? >> I'd like to propose a ad hoc committee on retention. on what >> student retaining students in the district for high school. >> Can I ask can I can I can I have a question? >> Mrs. Foreman question. >> Could we just really quickly just name before we talk about the new ones? Could we just name the current? >> Yes. >> Certainly. >> Thank you. >> Yes. So I think I have them all to memory. We have policy slashgovernance personnel facilities curriculum um >> finance >> special ed special services
028student services >> um we have negotiations and then we have shared uh services. Okay. So, so Dr. Hersshfeld brought up a a need for an ad hoc committee. Is there anyone else that would like to bring up a a new committee or ask a question about a current committee? Mrs. Foreman. >> Um, right now, so security issues are now under the facilities umbrella as we have talked about before. Is there any just because there's we have a lot of committees and I love this idea that Dr. Dr. Hersfeld has proposed. Is there a way to not necessarily add another committee but figure out a housing structure perhaps that we could all kind of agree to and >> you know just to streamline just like the security facur discussion. >> Yeah, >> I forgot long range
029planning too >> and long range planning. See we have another one like that's a lot. I think security because we used to have ad hoc security but it actually not just sits with facilities because I think there are some elements that we talk about in long range planning and some elements that we talk about even in um >> personnel. So it actually got distributed into a different community structure depending on the topic and we could probably do the same with the retention because it feels like a very >> um you know like very specific topic >> you go with yeah curriculum >> it in in some respects I feel like it could fit in curriculum. I also see conversations that could happen within finance or even policy depending on what we're talking about. So I
030like I like that thought that maybe >> special ed too. >> Yeah. Like it could be more than one one place. >> Student services. >> There's something there. So if if the same way we think about bringing up security when we need to specifically if we make a conscious you know thought to bring it up in these other places would would that suit what you're talking about do you think? >> Can James before you answer can I just say with this >> I didn't really understand the proposal. >> Let me tell you. So I just want to give you cuz he's not on any of the committees where we really focus on security because you just aren't. So with the way that we do it in facilities, it's always a line item in a committee
031meeting where we specifically make a point of talking about security. >> Are you proposing where are you proposing to house retention? >> Wherever the part of that conversation brings it. So if it's a policy part of retention, it's in policy. The same way if it's a fine facility part of security it goes in facilities. It depends on which component we're talking about but it becomes a permanent line in their agenda. >> I think it needs to be like a focus. >> So can I just a suggestion? >> Yeah. >> When we had the security ad hoc committee it was because we had to focus on security. because we needed very specific things taken care of in respect of security which obviously will bring in the other committees but what we needed at the time was
032a committee to sit down and discuss security >> SRO's SRO's what we needed we we had had the report done we needed what we needed and really it was a long range committee on security is really what it was. It was it was it was setting forth a security plan. What I think you're saying is we have a retention issue. We need to focus on it. So if we had an ad hoc committee that focused on it once it was focused on then that information goes to each. So we broke up the security committee itself doesn't exist anymore because we now know the plan and the plan exists in each of the committees. I think that the market that like the I think that the nature of this the discussions are not going to focus
033on security probably not too much finance. I think it's going to be like planning meetings, articulation with uh Benin Township, you know, having making sure that you have >> they don't fit it doesn't like fit neatly in curriculum either. It's part of it, but what what I think you're saying is >> to start with a committee, >> right, >> to focus on it and then and then break it up instead of if it's going to make things unwieldy and like another meeting. >> I don't have a problem with putting it as an agenda item for a curriculum. >> No, I like Jen's proposal here. This make a new committee just for six months. Can I can I just ask this question because we leapt right over something with with due respect. >> We're assuming there's
034a need for this and with I just want to ask this question. >> Is there a need for this? Because I haven't heard on the board that retention is something that we've been grappling with. So I'd like to reverse a little bit. Well, what I almost think is a different order. Put it in curriculum and if it becomes something that has is being brought to us as a bigger need, then it's ad hoc. and it's its own animal. >> So 6 months in the other direction. >> 6 months in the other direction. Start with correction. >> We can we can make it a permanent >> decide what that is and then pull it out the other way because we just haven't grappled with it to the like security was something we were all grappling with
035before we made that at home. >> That's a really good point. >> This is the first time sort of I think collectively. So if you're open to the idea of putting it in curriculum for a little bit leaving it as >> close that from the first second >> that I'm going to throw that back out. I'm going to respectfully disagree on some level. Got it. >> This is not the first time we have grappled with this because >> I have asked repeatedly for the numbers. For example, in my daughter who has graduated from another high school class, I can name off the top of my head just people I know six to seven people that did not go through to Mountain Lakes. That's just me knowing through the grape vine or the kids. So how
036many is it actually? And when I asked those numbers were not provided previously that has nothing to do with you because you weren't here but anyway [laughter] it has >> we've been talking about this for a long time >> or you have acting. I'm sort [laughter] of surprised that you are sort of saying we haven't heard about this because for me this has been like >> but we have talked about it in curriculum and that's >> yeah maybe >> and we had a huge issue for example >> like late drive it was a huge issue with the declining enrollment and now the enrollment is going back up there was a lot of focus on it there was so >> intentional focus yeah >> and I so while we may need to get the numbers like
037you said the horse before the cart or the cart before the horse or whatever you're saying. Um we may need >> that's what I'm saying. I don't know which one it is but the point is we may need it but I do think it is a very real conversation that we have been trying to have for a long time and we should get that information and I do think a ad hoc committee is very warranted and we may see that or we may get the information and be like oh no wait it was we We aren't actually losing students, but I think we are. And I think that discussion has been going on for quite some time. And the question is why? And a committee for six months to focus on that might be worthwhile.
038>> Can I can I add just one thing to this too? >> And then Lauren's been wait. >> No, no, no. Go ahead. Go ahead because I'm going to change the subject slightly. So go ahead. Um, with this with this ad hoc, I think we should set an agenda, a six-month agenda, like a timeline for this. So, we have like month one, this is our goal. This is the deliverable kind of a structure to it. So, it has it lives somewhere. So, the conversation just doesn't die and it doesn't just become something else. So, then it can pieces of it can go to curriculum, pieces of it can go to special education, special services, pieces of it can go to policy. And I I feel like facilities also has a distinct you know we don't
039know with the population like this this retention also is population retention is also long-term planning if there's a lot of things to go into it but I just would ask that we have a very structured kind of scaffolding >> around any of that and you know I'll let Lauren go but then I had one other thing so go ahead are you sure yeah is it on this topic though because I >> it's related but it's >> go ahead >> okay if we are discussing the possibility of committees. I'm not trying to throw more out there, but maybe we could swap or figure out something, is the idea of a co-curricular committee, um, which I think people have brought up over the years, like athletics, um, arts, clubs, all of that, which I think ties into
040retention, making sure that there's a consistent quality that we are providing students such that they want to stay >> in this district. So I don't know if that would fall under retention or be above retention and be another topic because I think I don't know. So just just to throw that um out there while we're thinking about the landscape of our committees. >> I think that's fallen under curriculum. >> I think I think it could be >> but I think >> but it has right club >> but we haven't >> I think it has to be separate though. I I don't I don't think it gets the >> intentional >> the attention that it that co-curricular always its own when we had it it was its own world where we talked about the the importance
041the resources the support the the numbers the finance there was there was so much that went under that it was really robust and and I think there's always a value in in looking at something critically and thoughtfully but again we're all saying the same things. We don't want to keep adding there. There is a lot. >> Yeah. >> So, so I'm not sure if we've landed anywhere. >> I'm I'm just going to say I'm going to back you on this, Jo, because um I think I haven't seen the data to know that there's a need uh for this topic to have its own ad hoc committee. And last year we said we weren't going to have a co-curricular um committee on its own because that could be in the curriculum because we had too many
042committee. So now we're going back to something that we said we weren't going to sometimes it doesn't work. >> So I would rather see the data in in curriculum or I mean even long range planning because if retention is an issue that's a longterm um issue that needs >> and how often is long-term planning is that like meeting five times a year. That's not enough. >> But I mean it could start there and then move to the next committee where it needs to go. But we do have a meeting coming up January 22nd and I feel like that's a good way to start because I haven't seen the data to see that there is an issue with retention. >> There's an issue. >> I mean ad hoc I've heard like anecdotal stories but I haven't
043seen the data from the administration to say that there is an issue. And I I think we I agree with you. We've asked for the data for the last few years. I haven't seen the data yet. Um, so I just feel like instead of adding something, >> sorry, I'm because in the data and the issue >> and I know there's someone from Putin Township sitting in the audience that you know that would be something because it's I think it's both districts that we have to get that information from. >> Yes, this is not just a Mountain Lakes issue. So I I mean I think I have seen enough data to think that this is an issue. I mean if from the finance perspective we have information that the number of students that we were expecting
044to get from Bhutin Township was less because they went to private school. So then that was I don't I don't know off the top of my head but it was enough to change what we had budgeted. So that's just that district >> and the tech schools, right? >> And then we're also trying to when we have that that's very easily knowable data that the the who's going to vote for Mount Lakes. >> Yeah. >> Um I was going to say say something else. Oh, and then in terms of I I think very related attracting tuition students is of the same vein. >> Yeah. I don't want to like stretch too far, but I think if I can't deliver this data, I mean, if it's just a matter of getting you the data, you should be
045able to get that by next meeting. Um if that's the request that's not the whole thing that's just the typical >> No, I mean just to start even like in terms of like the data you talked about for let's just say three years or we can even go out further to get the number of students from Mountain Lakes that enrolled in the high school >> from one year to the next looking for that so many times. So I would love to see you >> can can I make a a a proposal here? Here's two different two different options because me over here one person I'm not I'm not feeling terribly comfortable about adding two committees but I there there are two needs I think there are are >> three needs because you didn't even come
046back to me >> it's also part of it I mean this is I wanted Lauren to go because I interrupted her can I interrupt you now really >> yes she can and then I'll give you my my >> so it's also curricular so I don't know that it necessarily has to be something separate and ad hoc as a I agree very strongly with Lauren though on the co-curricular situation like this is a problem and it's a facilities problem a finance problem a policy it's a problem that it needs its own attention and it needs its own focus the co-curricular stuff that's an aside but um you know I just want to say we also have this weird space we exist in right now and township has this this is K12 issue um for all of
047our districts which is the AI and technology and where do we go from here. What are we doing? I know it's part of policy. I know that there are things that we can address, but there's a curricular element to this, too. And are we going to bury our heads in the sand or are we going to be very proactive? Like could this a could AI be something you know we draw intocurricular as a track like we have aviation we were exploring like how do we as a board talk about the future not in a long range planning like out in the future but the immediate future >> and AI all these things are just so impactful to what we have to do right now and I don't know if that's a committee I don't know
048if it's curriculum necessarily because it impacts so many other things. >> So, I wanted to throw that out for everybody for discussion. >> The the one thing I'll say, I think all of these have their connections to curriculum. The problem with curriculum is that there's the the meetings are so robust already and the and the agendas are so robust >> that it's lost feasibly to get these other major subjects in because I we did make an attempt >> to um for the uh enrichment and the co-curricular and extracurricular to make that a standing item but it gets crowded out >> when it's not the pressing need of the time. So, I think it it's definitely, you know, we we would have to have more curriculum meetings or have longer meetings if we're going because I
049mean I I agree with all of them. Um yeah I I think all of them deserve that was on my list a focus and and even the last one not even but the AI and tech integration is like if we talk about a strategic priority >> it is critical for the board to have more uh involvement and understanding and into the bigger picture of AI. So I I think the only downside around curriculum is that it's not a committee that's um has a lot of space for more >> really like bi-weekly. So, so here's here's an an >> bi-weekly and as possible >> if if one proposal is that we add co-curricular then that means in a short-term way we we put this retention idea and this AI idea under curriculum to see how it
050fleshes out. So, a new standing committee becomes co-curricular and these other pieces take the space of where co-curricular was in curriculum. we take that out and we put these others or we leave co-curricular off the table and we infuse it where we can and we make one of these others a an ad hoc or a committee. I I propose that we don't have the bandwidth right now for two new standing committees. I agree with >> I say we pick one but we add in >> and ask to be reporting out whether it's getting the data you're looking for or AI information we at least get the report out. we hear that which will maybe spur other ideas of where this needs to go or other conversations but initially especially because guys remember this you got
051to put in your your requests for committees and depending on what we add it may change what you want as your priorities >> so I'm a fan of of co-curricular and adding in the others under curriculum right now only because I think I think you're already ready to report that out to us but I think there's a lot of work for co-curricular ular club and athletic we haven't we really haven't been looking at >> so >> HSA those are my two pitches but you may have another idea >> can I just add one thing so on the AI front like I don't know that it needs to go under curriculum right away I think I think initially it starts with >> policy >> what is our policy around it >> so maybe in the short
052term it gets added to policy and Jen I would love your thoughts on that and then figure out if it goes >> I'm just sort of proposing if we are we have all these things that we just mentioned and on some level they do intertwine. What if we did like we call it like a student success and innovation committee where we're intertwining these needs and discussing these very important topics of retention technology co-curricular >> I'd like to see co-curricular and athletics be on on its own. I feel like that's not intertwined with AI. I feel like that's AI is policy, >> but it's like I get where like what >> success is what I'm I I'm saying and I'm not saying that they take on AI. AI can go to policy for now. That's fine.
053You can take that out that piece out. >> I I agree. >> The rest of the stuff does go together >> like the student success and the student success committee or co-curricular committee with retention. >> I think retention is separate. >> I do. I think I think they are. I think at the moment they should I do except >> we don't want more than one committee. So add >> people have to be willing to discuss. >> It's like either >> retention to curriculum >> either we say only one committee and we leave the other two topics sitting out there in the wind. >> No, but I think they can go under curriculum and retention time to add >> AI goes to policy and co-curricular is it own? >> It is whatever. I mean, I'm just
054just speaking from like the experience. Curriculum is robust and it never isn't two hours and it's always a non-stop the entire time. >> You can take out the other two components though. >> We never talk about extracurricular. >> Yeah, we never get to them. That's the problem. >> It's never even on the agenda. >> It is. It's on there sometimes. >> No, a little bit. >> What is No, co-curricular is clubs, athletics. It's all the things that want to keep kids here so they don't leave. >> It's one of the main reasons why somebody might look at another school because of some sports program or >> they have like some bell and whistle. We don't have >> performance art or something. >> And it's also our existing organizations that are struggling. They've all come and
055said, "Hey, we need volunteers." They stand up here when they come the first meeting of the year, not this year, but I think that could be a component and they say to us, >> I don't agree. >> I think retention goes in co-curricular because why are we having a program if we don't have the kids to support the program? I mean, you can't field a team. If you can't field, for example, the freshman teams and whatever we have coming in, then why are we talking about it? >> Why are we paying for them? >> Why are we paying for it? We've got a freshman We've got a freshman coach sitting on certain teams and there is no freshman team. >> You think that the um >> and we're paying for that >> retention issue is
056mainly an athletic >> this season >> or mainly academic. I thought it was mainly academic. >> I think it's both. >> I think that's why we need the committee. >> We [laughter] need the investigation to like I'm sorry I just caught paying attention to the time. So I think we have to kind of make a decision here. >> Co-curricular with retention as part of it. co-curricular and then with that >> AI policy over here and we >> we will do the AI please don't leave AI on the way >> that would be policy be policy policy to start >> I I mean I kind of agree I guess I agree with >> fine retention in co-curricular I kind of wanted to be involved but >> well but here's the thing I will send this out
057tonight >> adding co-curricular as a committee yes where's retention is it going to stay in curriculum or is it going to go to co-curricular I think that's what we're not we haven't agreed Yeah. Where is retention going? >> Why don't you put it in both? >> Okay. All right. >> Oh, it could be in curriculum and co. >> I like that. Great compromise. Great idea. >> That's good. And then we can always >> Chris, this is very relevant. >> So, this is going out with co >> This is getting another committee on here's what I'm hearing. >> Four choices. As soon as I get you this email out, send them back. four choices and we'll >> we can put the exact same people on as well as anything else. >> Excuse me. Can Can we
058all vote on We need to vote. >> Anybody object that we're adding co-curricular? Anybody object? >> Okay, then there we are. Let's carry on. >> All right. So um no >> co-curricular like Lauren Jen and it's put into okay then we NEED A MOTION TO ADJURNN. >> So move >> we have Dr. Hersshfeld and we have Mrs. Parker. Um at 8:46 WE ADJOURN. WELL DONE EVERYONE. PLEASE.