001Good evening and welcome to the Pascat Valley Regional High School District Board of Education meeting this December 15th, 2025. Roll call, please. Mrs. here. >> Mrs. To the flag of Americ said notice to the record, filing copies of said notice to the municipal clerks of Hillsdale, Montdale, Riverdale, and Woodlook Lake and publishing said notice in the record on July 2nd, 2025. We'll now have our student recognitions. The first one will be for the Bergen Record Athlete of the Week, September 4th, 2025, football. Whereas Adam Shaw, a senior at Pascat Valley High School, was named the Bergen Record Athlete of the Week on September 4th, 2025 for football. Adam was specifically recognized for his noteworthy performance against Union City. Adam concluded his exceptional high school career with 24,436 passing yards and 20 touchdowns. In just three
002games this fall season, Adam recorded three sacks and 46 tackles. Now, Therefore, be it resolved that the Pasc Valley Regional High School District Board of Education recognizes and commends Adam for his outstanding achievement. [applause] Is Adam here? Next, we have the Bergen Record Athlete of the Week, September 12th, 2025 for girls soccer. Whereas Ally Piniac, a senior at Pascat Valley High School, was named the Bergen Record Athlete of the Week on September 12th, 2025 for girls soccer. She served as team captain her senior year, leading the team to the sectional f final. Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Pascat Valley Regional High School District Board of Education recognizes and commends Ally for her outstanding achievement. [applause] Hallelujah. Next we have the Bergen record athlete of the week for October 17th, 2025 for volleyball. Whereas
003Maline Romero, a senior at Pascat Valley High School, was named the Bergen Record Athlete of the Week on October 17, 2025 for volleyball. Meline was recognized for assisting the Panthers in advancing to the Bergen County Championship bracket quarter finals. Meline concluded her impressive high school career with 1,4 days. Now therefore be resolved that the Pascat Valley Regional High School District Board of Education recognizes and commends Maline for her outstanding achievement. [applause] Next we have the Bergen Record Athlete of the Week for November 14th, 2025 for volleyball. Whereas Eva Meyers, a senior at Pascat Hills High School, was named the Bergen Record Athlete of the Week on November 14th, 2025 for volleyball. Eva was specifically recognized for her performance during the team state playoff debut. Eva recorded 225 kills, 35 aces, 19 blocks, and a 280
004hitting percentage in her senior season and concluded her accomplished high school career with 364 kills, 44 blocks, 117 digs, and 53 aces. Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Pascal Regional High School District Board of Education recognizes and commends Eva for her outstanding achievement. [applause] Next, we have the all region team girls soccer. Whereas Alli Piniac, a senior at Pascat Valley High School, was named to the fall East all region team for girls soccer. She has impressively surpassed 150 career points over four seasons, ending the year with 24 goals and 13 assists. Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Pascat Valley Regional High School District Board of Education recognizes and commends Ally for her outstanding achievement. [applause] Next we have the first team all county. Whereas the following students were selected to the first team
005all county. Alli Paliniac girls soccer Pasc Valley High School. Kylie Deenzo, gymnastics all around Pasc Valley High School. Hope Gasparino, gymnastics all around Pascal Valley High School. Courtney Brie, gymnastics beam, Pasc Valley High School. Sydney Fland, gymnastics, uneven bars, Pasc Hills High School. Kiara Okasain Cross Country, Pasc Valley High School. Now therefore, be it resolved that the Pasc Valley Regional High School District Board of Education recognizes and commends these students for their outstanding achievements. [applause] >> [applause] >> Next, we have a presentation for the annual audit report. I can't believe everyone is leaving for this, but >> okay, >> this will be given by Brian Gibbons, the auditor for Missia. >> Uh let's start with So, we are going to move on to routine members as we just waiting for Mr. Hibbons. Um, next we
006will have the interim superintendent report by Mr. Phillips. >> Thank you. Uh, I'd like to congratulate our student recipients. I understand the difficulty of managing academics and extracurricular activities. So, I commend you on your successes inside and outside of the classroom. I want to congratulate staff members who are recognized as teacher of the year and educator service provider of the year at Pascat Hills High School. Jan Young a history teacher and Jenna Howard the school counselor will recognize and Pascal Valley High School the band teacher and Nelly child 17 member. So congratulations to those individual it was a lot of fun. Uh we were able to announce that those award winners in their customer their office space without them being aware of it. So, we had some great reactions. Uh our construction project uh at
007Milestone, the exterior ramp is currently being constructed. We did find a broken exterior pipe while esavating. We replaced that pipe on Friday and the project is moving forward. At uh Valley, our HAC project in cafeteria is slowly progressing. The kitchen ventilation hoods are the last items that need to be completed. Uh once they are ready, we will have a building inspection and the health inspector will come and then we'll be open for operations. At also at Valley auditorium, we met with our contractors last week to discuss progress. We are hoping the project will be completed by the end of January. And um also at Valley, we've uh installed the visitor management system. It's up and running. along with other visitors will now have to show identification upon entering the building and will be given a
008a visitor lanyard to wear. I want to thank the custodial maintenance staff for their dedication. We had two recent events that showed their commitment and their efficiencies. Yesterday we had a good accumulation of snow on a Sunday. Typically, you wouldn't think that we're that concerned about it, but we do have a lot of outside local organizations using our buildings during the weekend. Um, we were able to clear the lots and the walkway, so nothing was cancelled or postponed. Then on November 20th, for those at Hills might remember, we did have a power failure and we had the chance to school for the students and faculty. We were fortunate to have a skilled maintenance staff available to complete the work in house. Otherwise, we may have experienced a multi-day closure. So, it just we're very fortunate
009to have individuals who can handle these emergencies and are licensed to do so. So, I'm very thankful for them. I want to recognize some individuals because I know it's a very difficult decision when it comes to retirement and it's always bittersweet for the district. Uh we have a couple staff members who have decided to put in their retirement papers and will be retiring at the end of the school year. So I want to congratulate them and uh wish the best as they finish the school year. Maryanne Simick who's executive secretary at Pasc Hills who has worked here for 29 years and Natalie Mackey a science teacher here at Hills and she's been with us for 21 years. I want to congratulate Cindy Kirk for making it through her first audit with flying colors and our
010auditors will be here a little bit later and speak further about those results. Um we are at the beginning stages of our 2629 school budget. Um, individual budgets have been submitted. Cindy and I are now meeting individually with our directors and administrators to review their budgets. Once that process is complete, the entire district budget will be constructed and examined to determine our next steps. One of my responsibilities as a superintendent is to monitor monitor legislative action and I want to inform the public and and the board. There's been a lot of chatter down trend about school uh cell phones in school. Uh so keep your eye on it that there might be some changes are happening down the road real soon. And the last thing is our next meeting is a reorganization meeting on January
0117th. So I do want to wish everyone a peaceful and enjoyable holiday season. Thank you. >> Thank you Mr. Phillips. Um Mr. and so he will now present the annual audit report as a Good evening everyone. >> My name is Brian. I'm a principal with this audience had another meeting tonight. So I'm coming for her. So, I first wanted to say thank you to Cindy uh for putting up with us for another audit. Uh I know it's a was a stressful time, but I think we a good relationship with each other and for a few years now and uh she's a huge help during the process getting through everything. Uh her and her staff were very accommodating and handled all of our requests and timely manage and I know it was a transition period of
012first full audit as the business administrator. But from our point of view, it was a really seamless transition and uh very very consistent. That being said, just want to present some financial highlights for the past year. And I want to start by saying this is as of June 30th, 2025. So we are looking back a few months at this point. You know, you're well into the the year that you're in, but we are looking back as of June 30th. So, I'm going to start with the main operating fund of the district. That's the general fund. The general fund ended the year with a fund balance of 13,334,000. That was down slightly from the prior year of 14,700,000. And of that $13 million fund balance, there's a few different buckets that make up that total fund
013balance. So, your your largest bucket of that fund balance is your capital reserve. end of the year little over $5 million. The maintenance reserve ended the year with a balance a little over $900,000. We also have an emergency reserve that's been used to offset some of the increasing healthcare costs that end of the year just shy of $315,000. Current year excess surplus which was generated in the operations of the 2425 year was 2.6 million. That excess surplus is derived from anything in excess of the unassigned, which is a calculated fund balance that the state has. It's based off 2% of overall budgeted expenditures for the year. So the state only allows you to keep up to 2% in that time. So anything above that assign goes into your excess surplus. Prior to your excess surplus,
014that was surplus that was generated during 2324 and was used support the budget that you're currently in 2526 that was $2.5 million and a reserve for unemployment compensation was $227,000. We also had some ending uh incumbrance balances $68,000. So those are open purchase orders as of June 30th that were obligated but not yet spent and that those funds roll over into the subsequent years budget in an additional amount of $96,000 used to um as revenue for your 2526 budget. And then last year as I mentioned your unassigned fund balance which is at the maximum for the state allowance 1,577,000. So all those buckets together add up to your 13,334,000 overall fund balance in your general fund. So as I mentioned it it is down uh approximately 1.3 million from the prior year but still very
015healthy. And just uh some some highlights of what caused uh the change in the fund balance there. You had excess local revenue which is your tuition, your miscellaneous revenue, predominantly interest earnings that had in excess of what was anticipated of 477,000. your state revenue, which is your state aid and some grants that go into your general fund, that had excess of what was budgeted of 316,000 and unexpended appropriations of a little less than 3.9 million. So we also utilized or I should say you utilized your reserves during the year. So we had withdrawals from your capital reserve, your maintenance and your emergency mentioned your emergency reserve. to help offset some of the increasing healthare costs. Maintenance reserves uh had budgeted withdrawals as well as approved withdrawals to help offset ongoing and ongoing maintenance projects throughout
016the year. And same thing, you had a budgeted withdrawal from your capital reserve as well as additional withdrawals throughout the year to help support the ongoing capital projects. So predominantly uh you're utiling some of those reserves of what they were originally established for and really investing in in the district itself by maintaining those capital projects and doing a lot of that. So a little bit more on excess surplus. Um we all know uh all the districts are are facing really difficult budgeting times um and just challenges. But I will say at the district here the use of excess surplus from 24 25 you're in the audit the year that you're currently in and next year you've been able to generate and remain very consistent with what you're using to support your operations for excess surplus
017which is very good. We really like to see uh consistency on that on that front. So 2425 use $2.5 million to help support the budget. 2526 the year you're in use just shy of 2.6 and then again what you generated in this past audit an additional 2.6 will be used to help support your 26 27 budget and I just mentioned you're starting that process. So that may not be the final number, but that's the number that's required by the state that you're going to use based on your surplus calculation for that starting point for that budget. So a little more uh information on the activity of those reserves I mentioned. Starting with your capital reserve that began a year with a balance just shy of 5.5 million. You had some interest earnings minimal and you
018were able to make a deposit of year end surplus of 1,750,000. You also had some unexpended uh project balances that were taken out of that capital reserve in prior years and maybe projects came in under budget and it was just um excess funds that if they're not fully expended, they go back to where they came from in the capital reserve. So unexpended funds return was $426,000 and he used about $2.6 million in withdrawals to move that over into your capital projects fund to do those uh larger ongoing capital projects. So with all that activity that's that's how we get to the balance of 5 million 39,000 year end your maintenance reserves some very similar activity the year a little over 1.2 2 million. You had a year end deposit by resolution of 278,000 to help
019replenish some of those withdrawals that he used throughout the year. And those withdrawals throughout the year to help pay for those ongoing maintenance costs was just shy of 600,000. And that left you with a balance of 98. Emergency reserve I touched on a little bit previously. again 563,000 and you utilize $250,000 in the 2425 budget to help offset the cost of the healthare. So the capital projects fund that is as I mentioned where the district accounts for in their audit report uh those ongoing larger capital projects that usually are over a take over a period of about a year. So the fund balance in that capital project project was 4,771,000 head in. And what that is is unexpended funds that were authorized for those projects. So there were still out of all the pro projects
020that were still ongoing and authorized, there were still $4.7 million sitting in there that were authorized to spend those projects. And we mentioned it uh every year I sit down with Cindy and we go through all the capital projects. Um There's quite a few. I think of all the districts that I see that your your district has the most going on, which is a testament to how organized everybody is in the business office to be able to keep track of all that stuff going on. We also want to say that all those capital projects that the district has been doing, you're being able to utilize your capital reserve to pay for that as well as two SDA rod grants uh which you still have the receivable for approximately 750,000 which is really a great thing
021to take advantage of of that offering to be able to continue to invest in the district. Moving on, just a snapshot of the long-term liabilities for the district. As of June 30th, you're able to pay down your existing serial bonds, leaving the balance of 7.7 million. Related to those outstanding serial bonds are what's called unavertised bond issuance premiums. So when those bonds were issued district received the premium and over the life of the bonds as you pay them back that liabilities related to that will go down and is amortized. So as those bonds are paid off that liability goes down. We paid down some of the outstanding leases giving me the balance of 574,000 remaining. Paid down a capital lease we used to call it now called finance purchase. $670,000 your compensated absences. So that
022is the liability for all eligible employees on use sick and vacation time that decreased from the prior year and ended at 977,000. So that's like I said a long-term liability. It's not a liability that's going to really come due. I did hear a couple teachers put in their for their retirements, but it's it's not a liability and that's everybody as of June 30th. Not everybody's going to retire. So that's that's something that's budgeted for and forecasted notice that a large liability like that would not come come. Lastly, the net pension liability for the district decreased a little less than $750,000 from the prior year and We got 10,717,000 and that's determined by the state of New Jerseyy's actuaries and and all information that comes from them, but we are required uh to include that as
023a liability in the district's report. And again, not a liability that will have to be paid out uh at you know shortly. Uh that's over the life of all the employees in that pension system. We're also happy to report no findings and recommendations this year. U Cindy, that that's that's great job. Um very happy about that. And uh just two suggestions that we are putting in all of our district reports. Uh just really some some language that deals with two new accounting standards that are going to be applicable for next year's audit. Um nothing that's going to impact the district's operations. Uh it's really dealing with improving some of the uh financial reporting models in our audit report. So you'll see next year uh in the audit report there just going to be maybe a
024couple pages that look a little different or improved and it's really dealing with uh just improving um the reporting that we're showing and including more detailed analysis and things of that nature. But just something we want to make you aware of that is on the horizon. So with that Happy to answer any questions or clarify anything. >> Thank you, Mr. every day [applause] office app. >> Next we have the negotiation committee report for November 19th, 2025 which I will give. We had a um initial meeting to just go over the uh negotiation that we have for this coming up soons and it really comes on it just before negotiations. So that's that and Okay, next we have the finance committee report for December 4th, 2025 by adduge thanks to the partner about how easy were
025to work with easier and very recommendations. So kudos to you guys. Thanks again. >> Next we have the policy committee report for December 9th, 2025. >> Uh yeah, we had the policy committee meeting last week and uh basically it was uh just a couple of issues came up. regarding the freedom to read summary and that's basically a um policy that's libraries library materials here's a process that you have to go through now in order to challen just want to make sure that policy protects libraries and also resource materials that was a different and then there was um just a few things about use of vehicles in regards to Thank you, Mr. Next. We have the governance committee report for earlier today for December 15th, which I will give. Uh we first discuss the board committees
026for 2026. U there will be a Google form that will go out for the board committees uh to for everyone to fill out and uh let us know uh who wants to be on what committee for next year. Uh we talked about um absenteeism among schools and how we can improve that. Uh we talked about instructional time um from both schools. We talked about board meeting dates for next year. So the calendar year we already have to June but we are going to try to move over to what many other schools have which would be the entire calendar year to go from J form to discuss what we can as far as and of the calendar for from July 2026 to 2026. Uh we talked about facilities use some more some um issues that we
027had with ethics and personnel and questioning Google form is going to be unfortunately it's been talked about in snippets. So everybody find out if there's enough obviously up to June we're talking about July But that's why >> so the meeting in January uh because it's a reorganization meeting and we're swearing in uh reelecting new elected officials. The state mandates that we must have a meeting the first full week in January. Uh typically if coming off a break where no one's working, we can't have that meeting on the Monday the 5th. So that give us time for return from vacations to be here. >> Thank you. Um next we have the student reports. First we have Pasc Hills High School report by Stephanie. on Thursday. Students executed Students have select social media and Mrs. So this
028is okay. concert, on the 17th optimist. Fore [snorts] students are involved. investigations. Students drive for a few Students have the opportunity to employ. last year. December 15, December 24, December 192. In addition, Alex Hills high school wrestling season two students showing Facebook. I want to say Captain English on Tuesday students as well as those Chinese. students. Do you know what's Christmas tree? Christmas tree spirit. Thank you. Next we have the second chapter of the Spanish National in service of writing letters to our military service which is always thank you to all students. The environment drive them to Angeli. They're also fundraiser conference New Jersey students together issues related to security, human rights, education, culture. A special congratulations to sophomores and In addition, on December 12th, several students and attended tours held annual donations from students
029in their club and donated them to children lives of children Jasper appointed as you coaches by the New Jersey basketball coach association. In addition, the women's basketball association has selected mentor coaches throughout the county and country. I'm excited to share all these aside from New Jersey from Florida, Pennsylvania, Mississippi. [snorts] And my joke I had mountain Thank you. I'd like to just talk about one other thing. So, we have been updating everyone on the superintendent search. Uh we have asked Mr. Phillips to stay on for another year or so essentially until April 30th, 2027. felt that his strong work ethic, his clear effective communication and his extensive work experience were really in line with what we wanted as a superintendent. Um, also in light of his extensive work experience, he's been able to mentor some
030of the hires in the office. And so for those reasons, we wanted some stability, less disruption in the district. And so we asked Mr. to stay on until next 2025 regular meeting and the executive session afterwards at 8:30. Any can I get a motion please? Any discussion? Call please. M. >> Yes. Yes. Mrs. >> Mrs. Martin. >> Yes. Mer. >> Yes. >> Mrs. We have comments from the public. Citizens are ready. comments regarding agenda items and limited to three minutes. According to the Pasc Valley Regional High School District Board of Education policy numbers 0167, persons wishing to speak must upon being recognized rise, sign in, and state their name, town of residence, and which agenda they will be referencing. Anyone like to speak from the public? Next, we will move on to policy for which
031we have three present agenda items. Can I get a motion, please? >> Any discussion? Roll call, please. Mrs. >> M. Mr. Martin. >> Yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. >> Miss >> Yes. Next we have education for which we have two consent agenda items. Can I get a motion please? >> Any discussion call please? Yes. >> Mrs. Yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. >> Mrs. >> Yes. Next we have human resources for which we have 19 consent agenda items. Can I get a motion please? >> Second. >> Any discussion? >> Roll call, please. Mrs. Yes, Mrs. M. Yes. Next we have finance for which we have 23 consent agenda items. Can I get a motion please? Any discussion please? >> Yes. Yes. Next we have old business. Any special business? Any new business?
032I went to AI school district awardations. So I just wanted to bring up there's a ton of development being done and A couple of my members come to me and ask me what is back in them. I >> just you know looking at it aware going on. >> Yeah. I want to clarify administrators. I have contacted the four administrators. Uh I heard back from a couple of them um just asking about what recently um finished housing projects they have. is being constructed or is currently approved to be constructed. I'm trying to get a better uh idea of potential than that. Um I did receive a demographic study that was a little bit older from public schools. Um but it does have a lot of projects that were um completed recently or in the process of
033being completed. Periodically district will go through a demographic study. Uh I believe we're scheduled to do ours next year. So um a better idea. Um I think there's two concerns when you're looking at the projects. One is potential enrollment increases. Um we do have enrollment in most schools are down compared to where they were probably about 7 to 12 years ago. Um so we do have some available space. as far as potential enrollment. The second concern is usually with with tax uh impact um the school district uh taxes revenue are based on previous tax levy from the school district. So if a town uh either increases or or loses that does not uh affect our revenue. Our revenue is always going to be um capped at 2% tax levy and and it's not based on
034towns whether you lose gains impactual tax but we discuss my two cents on that topic I believe as a councilman back above that went through their last round of affordable housing. In my opinion, there's really nothing for us to do. We're at the mercy of the town councils and they're in negotiations with developers. In my opinion, it's corrupt system. Developers come in and they claim that they're going to build for affordable housing and they only have to give 10, 15, 20% of affordable housing in order to build hundreds of units. And when a council is negotiating with a developer, that really is like crucial to what we have to then plan for. So if a town council negotiates for 20, 25, 30 units to the acre, it's a problem. You see some towns that are
035able to for 10 to 15 units per acre. That's advantageous to the school district. So, um for any res is curious about what the school is going to do, I would encourage any resourcings and the negotiations that are happening between their council and the developers because we have no say in that. And it was for me to read that book has negotiated a pilot with the developer that's coming in for BMW and not to get into the politics of it but you know when you negotiate a pilot it's much different um and when you don't have potential impact on schools so um we're not people come talk to we just have to kind of I don't want to say problem but we have to deal with the problem of increased enrollment and We all have
036a say in the decisions that are made. So, anybody who has questions? Any other new business? Okay. Next, we have comments from the public. Citizens are invited to make comments and are looking to minutes according to Pascal Regional High School District Board of Education policy number Person speaking there's no one can I get a motion to enter into executive session please there will be no action I believe right no action taken in the executive session so we will Um, we will journ there.