001Sure. Mr. Cameron? Present. Mrs. DeNoia? Here. Mrs. Dillon? Here. Mrs. Dimes? Here. Mr. Arrico? Present. Mrs. Ramirez? Not present. Mr. Rugnetta? Present. Mrs. Volpe? Here. Mr. Walsh? Here. You have a quorum. Okay. Proper legal notice. Perfect. Tyler? Thank you. The superintendent was asking to come up quietly. I go the other way. I'm like, come on up, Tyler. It's okay. You're late. But all good. Proper legal notice was given of the meeting. And I'd like to ask everybody to stand for a salute to the flag. 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. I'd like to ask for a motion for the approval of the minutes from the December 13, 2023 regular meeting.
002Motion. Any discussion or questions? Then roll call, please. on the approval of the minutes. Mr. Cameron? Yes. Mrs. DeNoya? Yes. Mrs. Dillon? Yes. Mrs. Dimes? Yes. Mr. Arrico? Yes. Mr. Rugnetta? No, I abstain. Mrs. Volpe? Yes. Mr. Walsh? No, I abstain. Thank you. The motion carried. Luckily, it's right at the beginning of our agenda. I don't know if you could saw it, but we're going to have a presentation from our nine students who were... Happy to participate. I talked to some of the parents they said I said did you have to make the kids do it and they were like nope they were willing partners in this process, so We're essentially going to do it alphabetically the student for those that don't know the students were all prepped to some degree for the meeting letting
003them know that they'd have up to three minutes to Talk and we gave them some talking points if they wanted to use it. They could use this time however they want the only little break Change from alphabetical. I think is Chris Seniglia who has another appointment busy guy and So we are gonna ask him to go first and we are gonna Apologize or say it's acceptable in advance that you could just shoot out as soon as you guys need to shoot out with your mom so chris the floor is yours can i stand it's better to stand thank you in fourth grade i remember my parents telling me that we'd be going to school from home for a while at first i thought we're being homeschooled but of course the entire district the entire country
004is heading home it was march of 2020 and this was during covid my name is chris semelia i'm a seventh grader at cedar drive middle school If there's one thing I've learned from my COVID experience, it was just how much I appreciated my school, my friends, and the feeling I get when I walked into my Colts Neck school every morning. I'm here today because there is work to do. And as a student representative, I can appreciate my experience, my classmates' experience, and the experience for future classes of Colts Neck students. Obviously, one of the best parts of Cheater Drive is seeing my friends at school five days a week. Being honest with myself, we can be a handful sometimes. The amazing staff and teachers give us the chance to learn together, the time to improve,
005and the space to be kids. Mr. Penske, for example, makes extra time for study sessions, and our class is well prepared for every test. I can't think of many times I haven't felt prepared for one of Mr. Pinsky's tests, but I can definitely remember times where I felt too tired to be at my best. I'll admit, I'm partially to blame. Like most teenagers, I usually get to bed late and need to be up early in the morning to get through my routine and make it to school on time. While we are all trying to perform at our best, we're often tired all day and lose focus. Starting the day even an hour later would result in a more rested and ready and on-time military service. On the other hand, our time together after school is
006some of the most fun and rewarding parts of our day. CDMS offers us many after school programs that are educational, active, and help us strengthen our middle school community. I would love to work on the sports and extracurricular activities community because some students my age are still finding and developing their interest. I would like to work with the committee to develop... Additional extracurriculars, considered secondary sports teams, and special interest groups. I'd also love to help spend time with the curriculum committee with the goal of introducing classes or programs that would teach kids the skills required to be an adult, such as coding, wellness courses, and interviewing. Thank you, committee members, for giving my classmates and me a chance to represent our school. There is work to be done, and I look forward to being a
007student representative and working with you. Okay, Christos, Cherni, you're up. Hi, my name is Christos Cherni from eighth grade. I don't know if you know. I have been here for three years. I was here in fifth grade, and this is my last year. I've loved it here. It's amazing. It's fantastic. I've loved everything about it. We have a lot of after school here. Everything is just a lot better than my old school, which is great. I'm friends with lots of different people, 6th graders, 7th graders, and 8th graders, obviously. And I know lots of different people. I know people from my church. I'm very well connected. I'm in my coal band, my jazz band, my play, obviously. I'm in the trivia. I'm in lots of different things. I think that I like communication. I would
008like to do communications because I like talking to people. I have fun talking to people. I'm an extrovert. I don't know if you know. I like talking to lots of people. Some people don't like doing that, and that's... I don't know. People say it's a superpower, but I think I'm just, I don't know. So I try my best to make people happy. I have fun doing it, talking to people, seeing all your smiling faces. And I think that I can make the school better with these things. Again, I play instruments. I do all these things. I love seeing people, so I think that communications would be a very good strength for me. Another one I think is extracurriculars because I'm in a lot of things. I can suggest good ideas. I was thinking about starting
009a science fair. I've done lots of different things that I think that would help. If I think that something doesn't make sense, I feel like I would have the best opinion due to the fact that I am in lots of clubs. These clubs have taught me lots of things about being in a group, working together, teamwork, all those crucial factors which is helping me do it. I like to have fun, you know, obviously. So I think that it can really benefit if I am in extracurriculars. Again, I haven't been here very long, but I was told when I came in fifth grade, they thought I'd been here since primary. And, hey, I just like having fun with people. People like it when I talk to them. My dad's a talker. Mom's not a talker. Mom's
010not a talker, so I have both sides. So I... I very much enjoy it. Actually, today I wanted an Italian trip. I was standing in front of everybody. So I have lots of fun everywhere I go. It's amazing. I think I would shine in communications. I feel like I can talk to the press well. And I also think that my extracurricular knowledge would help me in those suits. Thank you. Well done. Just take a minute so the audience knows too as the kids know some of the talking points We gave them was to let them know that after this meeting we'd be Assigning them to mentors. There's nine of them nine of us each get a specific board member That'll be your point person as well as assigning them to committees Just like in real
011life if everybody here only mentions a couple committees then Everybody's not going to get on them. We'll have to make decisions So we're gonna listen to what you have to say But I want the audience to know that that's one of the things that the kids are shooting for and thank you And like your friends, I feel like you already been a board liaison for years. I apologize. All right, next, Emmanuel Diener. Good evening everyone. My name is Emmanuel Deener. I am in sixth grade and I would love to be part of one of these two committees in communications or arts extracurriculars and other sports. I love my school curriculum here at Cedar Drive Middle School. One of my favorite things is the extracurriculars such as the clubs and the performance. We just had the
012Spamwell play. Who was in the Spamwell play with your hands? Yeah. How much fun was it? Very fun. Very fun. These clubs and sports make school so much fun, but there are some things that aren't so good. The transportation specifically. Some of us kids have to walk a very long way from home, and it's not safe. For me, I have to walk three-quarters of a mile from my bus stop to my house. Plus, there's a huge hill and turns where I can't see cars coming. Plus, there's no sidewalks. So, I'm walking on the street. This isn't safe and other kids have to walk that long, if not longer. We have to do something about this. It's too far to walk and it takes us too long to get through. So I think we need to
013do something about it. But moving off of that, I want to be a student representative because I have great ideas and I'm funny, I'm kind, and I'm smart. I will try my absolute best to make the school a better place. Thank you. Jillian de Salvatore I have many interests both inside and outside of school, such as playing the piano, making art projects, cooking, church, and travel sports clubs. And I feel I am capable of representing my student community. My favorite part about my Colts Neck Middle School experience is participating in school sports. I am an athlete and this year I participated in school soccer and basketball. This spring I will be participating in track. This year was the first year I was given the chance to participate in school sports because CDMS provided the opportunity.
014I enjoyed that the school provided this experience and I enjoyed meeting new people and participating in teamwork. In middle school, I am also grateful for the opportunity to be in literacy enrichment. It provides a chance for those who have a strong interest in writing to be challenged more. Another positive experience I have found at Cedar is that there are multiple levels of math classes to match students' needs. I also take advantage of ELO time for extra help with my schoolwork and to have additional access to my teachers. If I could change one thing about CDMS, it would be the social studies curriculum. Although I love learning about history, I feel the workload is far too much for sixth graders. I feel I could benefit more from macro learning than micro learning. For example, knowing every
015detail of the Federalist era is overwhelming. I also spend most of my weekends studying and stressing out about history because we have a quiz almost every Monday. While I appreciate the passion of the history department, I feel the amount of work is more on a high school level than a sixth grade level. I love history so much, but feeling overwhelmed with this current curriculum has made a negative impact. Of the seven Board of Education committees, I would appreciate the opportunity to participate in either the curriculum or the communication committee. Given that I take my studies very seriously, participate in classes, and have diverse interests, I would be an appropriate representative to provide input on improving our middle school curriculum. I feel I would be able to provide advice on what students feel regarding how we
016are communicated to and what is communicated to us. This would help me provide a positive impact on the communication committee. Thank you for your attention. I look forward to our collaboration. Okay, next we have Shawn. Is that correct? Yep, Kayla. Okay, a little about me. I'm Shawn. I'm an 8th grader. I moved here in 6th grade. So I like to do a bunch of clubs like volleyball, make a difference in peer tutoring. I love the community that we have here at Coles Neck. I loved how I felt very welcomed. Dr. Rigg went out of his way to help me feel welcomed when I moved here because it was also first day of middle school. One thing I would like to improve was the AC. It gets really hot. On it, we're working on it. Especially
017even in September when it wasn't even that hot, we had all the fans running. Yeah, it was burning. It's important to us as well. Many of my peers also would like AC. That was my biggest point. I would like to be either on the finance committee or the ADHSC for arts, sports, and extracurricular activities. I know everybody loves volleyball clubs, so I wanted to make maybe a volleyball team. That would be a fun idea. I like to do cooking, cleaning, anything really. Pure tutoring. I love pure tutoring. Ms. Cooper is the best. She's the nicest. I'd love to be on finance because I like helping with budgets. My parents, they own a company, so they let me help out a little bit. But I especially like helping in areas that need more attention at school.
018When I walk around, I see some areas. I'd also like to build a community more, maybe do some more murals around the school. I know a lot of them are from the early 2000s, but I'd like to do some more. That was my key point, but thank you for this opportunity. Thank you. Next we have Kaitlyn McCormick. My name is Kaitlyn McCormick. I'm currently in eighth grade, and I'm here tonight to present to you my reasoning on why I think I'd be a good fit for the Policy Committee and the Advocacy and Government Relations Committee. First, I'd like to tell you what I like about the Cold Stock District. I've always felt welcome into this community. In Conover Road Primary School, I still remember my first day when I got dropped off in the morning
019and was greeted by staff members who come and escorted me into the building. In Elementary School, when I entered the building, there were always adults who I could count on for the leavens of work, especially one who only I could call Mom. In Cedar Drive, whenever we arrive, all the administrators and staff are always there, making us feel comfortable and like we're at home. Besides welcomed, I've always liked a good challenge in the classroom. In primary school, I had no clue who I might be or what I might do in life. I was challenged to discover who I was. Then, the ups and downs of success in elementary school pushed me to work harder than I ever had before. In Cedar, the choices beyond academics allowed me to grow as a person. Choices like performing
020in the play, after school activities, playing sports, and even choosing my electives. Now you proposed to us what could be changed about this school district? My reply is that you've asked this question to only nine students. The nine of us can offer a lot of different perspectives, but we don't know what everyone is thinking. My suggestion is to create a Google form or a poll that would allow students to voice their opinions that we could connect during this meeting. This way everyone can contribute and feel empowered in this process. This is not about my concerns alone, but the concerns of all the students. I am just their representative. For my contributions to the student representatives on the Board of Education, I first would like to include my interest in the Policy Committee. Recently, Policy Regulation
0212330, Homework, has come to my attention. This policy has created a feeling of a challenged environment to the students in the district. I believe I can bridge the gap between students and staff to find the best outcome for all. I am certain that there will be future policies that have a large impact on our student body, and the board would benefit from hearing each student's voice. For the Advocacy and Government Relations Committee, beyond bringing the students' voices to the board of education, I wish to bring it, in cooperation with the superintendent, to the New Jersey State Board. By bringing the fellow students of Colts Neck to the state, I believe my fellow students' ambitions would be realized, and they would no longer feel frustration due to state policies beyond their control. Thank you for this
022opportunity to make my contribution to this community. I look forward to rolling up my sleeves and being an advocate for every student and every classroom in Colts Neck schools. Before I call up our next participant, I think I have to clear up that when you said... When you went into school and everybody was so lovely and you were the only one to call someone mom. I think she cleared up. I want to clear up. That would have been your first year, right, before your sister was there. She seemed offended that certainly two of us could call her mom. But, no, I think it was valid if you met that on your very first year because you weren't there yet. Fair enough? So unless Maureen wants to direct anything directly to Caitlin or address that issue,
023then come on up and give us your... Hello, my name is Melina McCormick. No, not that Marsha Brady-Morning McCormick. I am a 7th grade student in Cedar Drive Middle School. Tonight, I am here to speak to you about the student representative program and where I believe I fit best. Where my skills and interests will best serve the students and staff of Colton X Schools, the communications committee, and the finance committee. First, let me tell you what I know about Colton X Schools and the people that are a part of that district. These people include you, the Board of Education, who are... The administrators, our principals, our vice principals, our teachers, and finally, our students, who are the very fabric of the Colton High Schools. Being a student myself, I am always grateful for our members
024in the district, simply because they always make you feel welcome. Each one from top to bottom making their own individual contributions, each piece of the puzzle fitting together to make a place where I have learned and grown. This school district has many positives, but there is still a place where I believe things can be made better. Let me share a personal experience with you. I have brought a concern of the students of Cedar Drive to our principal, Dr. Rigby. To his credit, this problem was solved. However, another problem has presented itself. One of communication between the Koltznik School District, its parents, and kids. It's my belief that a more open and swift response will enhance the relationship between students and staff in the school. Nothing can get accomplished in any organization without good communication. An
025openness to others' ideas requires hearing them, sharing them, and responding to them. The Communications Committee will be a path to better relations among all the members of the schooling environment. When the students feel like they are quote-unquote in the loop, everyone will believe that we have achieved the best results, which is the most complete education possible. I want to bring the message from the students and share it with you. Along with communicating, another area I am interested in looking forward to adding my skills to is the finance committee. After all the good things that I have experienced, the reality is that each one is a financial decision. A decision like, how do we hire the best staff, fund the best programs, maintain the best facilities, and balance the most important goals with a realistic budget.
026Students can help with these decisions, and I want to be their voice in this. As Koltznerk Schools goes, so goes the future of education. Thank you for your time and consideration with this. Have a great night. Tyler? Sirzan? I just know Miss Tyler. Tyler, you're up. Hello, I am Tyler Sirzan. I'm a 7th grader and I come from the Cedar Drive Middle School. And I'm excited to be on this Colts Neck Board of Education as a student representative. Some things I currently like about my full-time school experience is how involved everyone is during a lesson and how my teachers make learning fun. Not everything is perfect, however, and there are some problems that I would like to change, such as the schools themselves. Some problems in the schools are the bathrooms, such as in the
027boys' bathroom, there are no dividers for the urinals, which is a big privacy issue. And then in the 7th grade bathroom, there's a hole in the ceiling, which is why I like to be part of the buildings and grounds and safety. security committee another concern is communications between parents teachers and students i feel like ever since i've been to middle school that parents have gotten like less involved with the activities in the school district parents really get more involved in after school activities major after school activities such as like the dance or the plays that we have this would build a better community between teachers and parents and students and their parents this is this is also an example of be part of the volunteer communications committee and thank you for having me Sophie, I
028guess you're used to being last name. Winkleman as your last name. So, come on up. Hi, I'm 8th grader Sophie Winkleman, and I was interested in becoming a student representative to be able to share my questions or concerns that may come up during the school year. I also wanted to be a voice for some of my fellow classmates who might be more shy in sharing their opinions but still want their voices heard. I've been in the school district since kindergarten and have definitely enjoyed being a part of the Colts Neck schools. I don't remember every detail from my time in primary and elementary school, but I can definitely recall feeling so nervous right before I started middle school. Everyone I knew told me I would love it and I would be totally fine. From the
029very start, I loved Cedar Drive and felt welcomed by all the teachers and fellow students. Throughout my three years, I felt so comfortable in school and not judged by anyone, which I know is something I should not take for granted. My favorite thing about the school district is feeling welcomed and accepted by everybody and I love all the opportunities that I get every day at Colts Neck. But if I could change anything about the Colts Neck school district, it would be the options at lunch are very limited for everyone, especially picky eaters and people with food restrictions. These even basic foods like bagels and pasta have to be whole wheat, which not everybody likes, so sometimes it's very difficult to find a meal that works for everybody. My top choice for committees would have to
030be the Committee for the Arts, Sports, and Extracurricular Activities. I'm involved in a lot of inside and outside of school activities like tree leading, swim team, band, chorus, musical theater, student council, and many others. I feel like I can be a good addition to this committee because of doing so many activities. I've gotten to see what is popular and what works well and what doesn't. I would love to get all the students incorporated, so I would like to create new ideas that will allow everyone to get the same experience that I have gotten by getting... joined in all clubs and sports. And lastly, my second choice is the Committee for Communications because over the past few years, I've done numerous things that show I'm good at communication to my peers and others. I've done morning
031announcements, which helps spread information across the school. I've emceed talent shows, and I've done the play, which all shows good communication. Thank you for this opportunity. I think all of them did amazing, and we'll give one more round of applause for every one of you. I'm really looking forward to working with you guys. I think it's going to be exciting. It's a new dynamic. I'll talk about it later. I went to a function last night that was similar that they do statewide, trying to get some dialogue from eighth grade students from all different schools. And this is just a really exciting time. And several of you mentioned communication. So we'll take a little break so that anybody who wants to leave, including the students, once we get this structured, we'll not only assign you mentors
032and committees. We'll also make it so that all nine of you don't have to come to every meeting. I think it's going to be easier on the households if, unless you want to come to every single meeting and talk. We'll make it easier. We'll have you come to different meetings. We'll get it structured. We're going to get Vinny working hard because that extracurricular committee that everybody talked about was brand new. He's got to get some structure to it if he is going to have all these participants. So anyway, guys, it was really exciting. While we take a little break, like I said, whether it's after the break or any time during the meeting, if anybody stays for some and leaves, don't be embarrassed or feel like you have to stay for the whole thing. So
033thank you and anything official we just say we'll take a five minute break. um Let's start with the adults in the back and I know. And then we'll let you guys see. Okay, ready? We'll do a one, two, three, and smile. How's it look from out here? Looks good? You're good. Ready? You guys know the old rule, kids. If you can't see them, they can't see you. One, two, three, smile. Who do you got? And like I said, we'll take a five minute break. Great job. Hey, how are you? I just need to get the body. Yeah. No. Thank you. Yeah. That's why we're going crazy tonight. All right guys, we're gonna get back to business So many of you could stay that's great. We'll try to make it not too lengthy and you'll get
034to see some of the real business So we're just officially back from the break Vince are you okay? Do you have to do anything? We're just going to acknowledge the communications that we received and then it gets into my report All right, I'm going to start tonight by congratulating the Ramirez family on the birth of their new baby boy. Jessica, who's our vice president and usually sits to my right, is not here tonight because her husband Justin and she welcomed Maverick Christopher into their family last Monday. Maverick was 6 pounds 15 ounces and joins his brother Lincoln as their second child. I was very happy to join Dr. Rigby and Ms. Hums at the eighth grade dialogue last night hosted by the New Jersey School Boards Association. As some of you mentioned, there's a higher
035level of county and state organizations that the school works with. Thankfully, Dr. Garibay mentioned to me that this eighth grade dialogue was going to happen, so I went last night. It's an annual event that had 27 eighth grade students, one from each middle or elementary school, on the stage communicating with various adults. School board representatives, superintendents, principals, teachers, and guidance counselors joined the parents of these young adults to listen to some impressive dialogue. Ripley Burgess, I don't know, some of you must know her, was selected from Cedar Drive and she did an outstanding job representing our district. This was my first time attending the event and I was not only impressed, it solidified my commitment to our new program of welcoming our first student liaisons. Inputting questions from these students is one of the most
036important tools we board members can use in making decisions. It was a treat and an honor to hear from our new liaisons tonight, and I look forward to assigning them mentors and committee spots and then working with them throughout the year. In addition to the new student liaisons, we are currently acting as a committee of the whole. We are live streaming our meetings. First one tonight, I don't think I mentioned that to you, but it's being live streamed. We added a new committee, arts and extracurricular activities, amended the homework policy to be more student and parent friendly, and we are also currently working on our budget for the 24-25 school year, which for those of you that were interested in the financial part, the budget is the most important financial decision and operations that the
037board does every year, and you only have that one shot a year to do it. As our students in the public have and will see, policymaking is not always easy. Discussions have and will become very spirited and even heated sometimes. One of the most important things a legislator or public official needs to do is fight hard for what you believe in and the things you want to get done, but at the same time not making it personal or attacking those who might disagree with you and to not take it personally when somebody pushes back really hard on your idea. In closing, I just want to make sure everybody knows, speaking of the budget, there's going to be a special meeting of the board next Tuesday, the 19th at 630, where we would be adopting our
038tentative budget. There's a process that you kids will get to understand as we go along further. But the tentative budget will be voted on next Tuesday at 630 at a special meeting. And then our next regular meeting will be on April 10th. Thank you. And that's the end of my report, which means then we roll into some committee reports. Because a lot of the board members are new and because we are trying to make that transition to operating more as a board of a whole than a board of committees, the committee reports may be somewhat limited. So don't be surprised if there's not much to report. But we roll through and see what everybody's got to say from the various committees. Almost all of which I think everybody mentioned at least one at least one
039person mentioned all the committee so and somebody's getting assigned regardless so buildings of ground safety and security committee Kevin anything to We had an opportunity to meet our police department and have an overview and discussion of our present school safety, emergency preparedness, emergency action plans that are in place, review. of the existing policies and also talked about meeting more frequently, have a good communication from our police department who are actively working with our school officials, the school principals, and making sure your kids are safe each and every day. It was a great presentation by the police department. The school safety encompasses not only the police department's role in protecting our community and schools, but there's also a component of... student looking after the the the child in the home if there's any issues that arise
040in the emergency setting where this they feel that the school should be notified they do it's a very good program that dr garibay you know we talked about i wasn't even aware of i retired from the police department but you know we didn't have that type of program communication where we made notification to the school so we can address any student emotional support or any need that resource that student may need whether it's a school counselor School, you know kind of psychological counseling. So it was just a great great meet and greet and I appreciate the meeting together The principals were there as well as school safety specialists. So it was a great great old discussion and Now I just wanted to thank them for their role they play in our community So we're going
041to go forward and try to have a little more frequent meetings in person. Thank you. Vinny, anything from the Communications Committee? Dr. Gamble, I met last month, and we were talking about how to better reach out to communities, to parents, and we're going to put together a new... Survey. Survey. Better reach out through social media, through websites, and get parents' ideas and what they think is missing. It would be better for us to reach out to them and get their opinions and how to better put ideas forward. Thank you. Jess is not here tonight. Amy, do you know if there's anything from curriculum to report? I haven't been contacted at all. Okay. Finance Jason anything to report? Jason, anything from finance? We've had a couple meetings already, and we're looking over our options, and we're
042looking at current contracts, and everything's going pretty well. And looking forward to the new bit that I'm going to be rolling in. Great. Jess is also policy. Allison, anything from policy to report? There are items on the agenda this evening. One is for a second read of the homework regulation. And we really have not met. We have communicated slightly through email. 0143. Oh, and 0143 for the student reps. You guys. So we're going to pass that one. How about that? Yay! Right? Okay. That's it. Thank you. Sorry, Michael. Thank you. Advocacy and Government Relations Committee. Angelique, anything? Yeah, I haven't met formally with Dr. Garrett in person, but I'm constantly enjoying her. But I just want to thank her. the team that put the live streaming up. I've been an advocate for that for two
043years, so I'm so happy that it got done and I'm happy to report it cost nothing to our district. Dr. Garibay utilized all the equipment from COVID and the staff that installed it used regular... payroll time while we were here. So it costs nothing to our district. So I'm very happy and I appreciate you putting that together for us. Just to touch briefly, last month the state board had, they proposed a bill for the freedom to read bill that's been put on the back burner. I'm following closely to see if they're going to... put that back out on the agenda. But I want to thank the parental rights groups across the state of New Jersey that are working 24-7 and standing up against inappropriate laws and legislature passed out all over the state of New
044Jersey. And what was the other thing? Just to touch briefly on the child liaison. I'm so happy that all nine of you... Thank you. And regarding the most popular committee of the night, apparently, anything to report? And I've been modeling on that. Thank you very much. Just like you guys are liaisons to this board, we have board members that are liaisons to different groups within the community. That first one is the parent advisory committee and the liaison is Brenna. Dylan, Brenna, anything to report? Yeah, we've been really busy. A lot of the parents that are in the committee are actually here tonight, some of your parents, which is really cool. I guess it runs in the family. But we had our four sessions a couple weeks ago and then we had another four this week,
045these last two days. And they've been really productive. In February, the sessions revolved around really getting all the ideas that we've had throughout all of our conversations on paper. We made a full list of all the talking points that we hope to make recommendations to the full board about. But it's a lot. It was a lot of information. And so we spent this week really trying to condense all those different topics. And for the record, anybody that... did not come to the meetings because the attendance has dropped off a little bit, I would say, over these last few months. But people still have been responding via the Google Forms, which has been great. So we still have had a lot of feedback. And I'm still loving the work. And I think that I think that
046the committee has really come up with some great ideas that we will hopefully be presenting, well, they will be presenting to the board in April, you know, as long as we can get it all together by then, worst case may. But the goal is to just keep condensing those notes that we have, and then we are going to send it back out to the committee members to kind of vote on and see if we can get a unanimous. Yes from the parents on the things that they strongly believe in and there might be some honorable mentions for other ideas that we just want to also make note of. So we are not meeting in person again as a committee, but we are going to keep communicating via email. Oh, yes. Thank you. We're going to
047meet with the admin team at the end of this month to go over some of the... ideas that we have condensed down and some of the you know smaller ones also um to see if there's things that the admin team can already kind of tell us that they're doing already that we may not be aware of or that they can take care of without actually having to present to the full board we're just going to kind of have a little tank tank about it yeah streamline it before it comes to this table Thank you very much Amy anything to report from the PTO A ton of money raised that goes directly back into the school district, which is really exciting. So we have that next week at Southgate Manor. There's been tons of grade-level activities
048going on. Both of my kids got to attend some within the last couple weeks, which has been very exciting. And just rolling. So, you know, getting close to the end of the year, which is incredible. Yeah. Great exciting nothing for me on the count Koczak Township Committee meeting the Kevin on the senior citizens and quiet And lastly, to the state and county school boards associations, anything to report? Angelique? No, nothing. Just briefly, we haven't attended the two-day in-life instruction in Plainsboro. That was very, very long and grueling. We survived, though. Vinny and Jason did it virtually, so we all met the requirements. Beautiful. That's it. Good to have you down. And like Amy with the PTO, I know there's a superintendent's report. There is. So proceed at your leisure. Welcome and thank you to our
049new 2024 student representatives, the Board of Education. Student Voice, as you know, is a part of our current strategic plan, and it's also just nice to hear from you. This is your school. and we are here to work with you and provide the best environment and education for you. So thrilled to be working with you and partnering with you. Just thank you for being a part of this whole thing. I wanted to jump into a little bit of an overview regarding the explanation of state aid that came out at the end of February. It was in the media, and I'm going to give a very brief overview of it, in the media that we had received one of the largest increases in New Jersey, one of the largest ones. And I want to put that
050in context. Last year we received a reduction in state aid, which was also in the media. We lost approximately $800,000. That $800,000, though, was not related to S2, which is you hear a lot of state aid reductions that other districts in the state of New Jersey are seeing over the course of time, over the past four or five years of it going on. It was unrelated to that. Our district, because we house and serve the military students who reside on Naval Weapons Station Earl, we receive something called federal impact aid. We receive state military aid as well. Two years ago we were going through a regular routine audit of our federal impact aid as a result of that that payment was delayed The state last year because the payment at the federal level was delayed
051looked at whatever list that they had and said Colts Neck didn't get federal aid They must not be serving military students anymore and therefore they didn't receive the state aid for it That stating was in a total of $800,000 that we didn't get last year. We lobbied. We called everybody. There was really no response to that with the exception of recognizing the oversight or whatever the case may be. This year, we received approximately $3.6 million. The share of that in terms of categorical aids, state aid comes in different categories, transportation, special education, different things. The majority of all those categorical aids were flat. There was no increase. As a matter of fact, we saw a small decrease in one category. What we did get back or see in return from that state military impact aid,
052we received it back again, and then some. So I want to make it clear that although yes on paper we received a significant increase from last year there is context to that increase which includes somewhat of a recapturing of the aid that we lost last year. Does that make sense? So I wanted to put it in context. Thank you sir. I do have my B.A. service. No don't. So I just wanted to put that in context and on the record. I want to thank all the parents, students, teachers, and administration whose support and enthusiasm helped make this year's read-a-thon one of our most successful yet. Thank you to our PTO. Huge thanks to the chair people who are relentless in communication and organization, Kirsten Connor and Danielle Alpa. This Colts Neck PTO raised over $34
053million. thousand dollars in donations which will help to fund programs, equipment, activities for all students in Colts Neck schools. Let's clap our hands for her. In total, there were 515 registered students across all three schools who read over 200,000 hours during the read-a-thon. So congratulations to everyone who participated. The top readers and fundraisers are celebrated at each school, and all that information and the specific names are available on the Colts Night website. So thank you to our BTO. Thank you to our student readers and families who supported them. Our district wellness committee met last week. We reviewed the district wellness policy, goals to survey parents about our current food services, Palmtonian presented about a menu and about some of the food options that they provide, unique experience that our students have, provided an overall of
054our SEL programs, opportunities and shared some initial thoughts regarding May as Mental Health Month and some of the activities that we'll be doing throughout that month. On action item number four of our board agenda, you'll see recommendation for the amendment of the 23-24 school calendar. I've shared information internally with the Board of Education staff as well as our school community already regarding the necessary change to our current school calendar. That is followed by action item number five, which is the approval of our 24-25 school calendar. That will be amended later on as we include and develop our marking periods. back to school nights and all those things. So those things usually, you'll see an amendment to that over the summer. I want to give a huge, huge, huge shout out to the cast and crew
055of Spamalot Young at Park. It was a gigantic success and so much fun to watch. Love the coconut, love the whole thing about it. Thank you to Mrs. Sullivan, Mr. Brown, and Mrs. Lindoño, and all the staff who's come out to support. It's a lot of work. I know I was a performer. That may shock you in school as well. And I know all the hard work and the memorization, everything that goes into it, it flies by. So congratulations to all of you who participated on a job very, very well done. I also want to congratulate our second graders and their teachers and staff for another... excellent second grade fair. Every year it's something that they use as a tool, as an end of year activity for writing about nonfiction and it was just fabulous.
056So I celebrate that, congratulations to all of them. I also want to recognize and thank you, thank Mrs. Frick and all the staff for a wonderful Read Across America Week. There were lots of great and special guest readers. I myself had the pleasure of reading to Mrs. Sposito's class at primary school. It was a fun week that also included eighth graders from Cedar Drive coming to primary school to revisit some of their teachers and share a couple reading moments with our younger students. I want to reiterate what Ms. Volpe said, a huge shout out to Mr. Petrillo and Mr. Capasso for bringing our live streaming together. it can be connected huge effort and just much gratitude thanks and appreciation to them and then finally march as you know is music in our schools month and
057uh with our spring musical as well as the conover road elementary school choir and band will be performing march 26 2024 at seven o'clock and that concludes my superintendent thank you very much and i'm just going to add one thing all the parents i'm sure understand what the superintendent said about the um Military aid and while it was like shorted last year and basically we just got it all back this year including last year's but what the kids might not understand that their parents certainly understand is that everybody all your parents who own a property in town pay property taxes and 60 ish percent of those taxes I think are for the school more than half of it goes to the both schools not just ours so they yeah so they pay a lot of
058money for taxes because a lot of kids come from the military base and because if you don't know that the military base has a bunch of property and structures in town, but they don't pay taxes because they're a government entity. So that's why we get this additional aid. It's sort of like to cover the taxes that would have been paid from all those places. Just to make sure you understood. There's a couple information items, superintendent's report on enrollment and investigations of HIB, anything to mention about them other than they're on. And that brings us to the portion of our meeting, which is open. for any public comments by anyone at the meeting. So if anyone would like to speak on any subject. I just wanted to say that as a parent, I'm wearing my parent
059hat right now. I was a little disappointed to see March 29th added to our calendar. As a practicing Catholic who thinks it's very important to our family to have Good Friday, which is one of the holiest days of the year, be added to our school calendar, we were very disappointed in that. So I just wanted to say that I wish there was another day that we could look at to add to our calendar. Thank you. I have to recognize the one in front first. Thank you. She's just standing. When will we find out who our mentors and what committee we are on? Hopefully get that. No, that's a good question. I wanted to listen to everyone speak, kind of get a feel for who you each are, and obviously for the ones you were interested
060in. And I'll put something together as soon as I can. Certainly by next week you'll know. Thank you. set round about. I didn't even have any conferences with any of my children's teachers, which could be a good thing or a bad thing. I do have a daughter that also has an IEP and was expecting just some more communication. I had to actually reach out to some of the therapists, which they're wonderful. So these were half days as working parents. challenging if you have to get child care or work around different scheduling. I talk with other friends and parents who are teachers in other districts and they do not have this excessive amount. Parents within our district that are teachers in other districts throughout the state, this amount of half days. There are some that I
061think in October, it's like Tuesday to Friday. and then the teachers go home Friday afternoon. So I really would love the board to consider, I know I'm not the only parent who feels this way, but moving ahead into the next four-year calendar, how we can address that many half-days for conferences, and especially this last one where I didn't even have to partake in any conferences. So thank you for listening and taking that into consideration. Thank you. Anybody else? Comments? Then we'll close the public session. We don't vote on that here, right? Just close it. And the only thing I will say on the comments, I know the calendar, both the amendment and next year's calendar are on the agenda for tonight. I know the superintendent worked hard on it, and I know she just heard
062your comments. So unless... you want to do anything tonight i would suggest that the board still adopt it but i don't want you to feel like oh we're adopting this tonight because we don't care what you said we're just going to do it as you can see from tonight the the it can be amended so i think we're going to take your um Concerns and thoughts and certainly will discuss it, but I just wanted to let you know that they were hurt. Thank you So our school year was 181 days that's the comp teachers contract so what we plan everything for payroll is designed as 181 days so everyone kind of well why don't why do we go one day extra because that's what's scheduled and that's what's planned for throughout the year and that's
063what the teachers contracts are for okay um when we went as a leap year and some challenges with different other holidays throughout the years and timings and things we only had two snow days or two emergency days built in one of which was burned when the emergency when the lights went out we couldn't have power on this campus and then the other was a snow day And those of you who have received late calls, you've heard me speak, sometimes we wait as long as possible to make that call because I knew I didn't have any days left. The options, as I was talking about and presented to the board, when you're looking at the calendar, right now currently we end on Friday, June 24th. Many in consultation with many of the camps and things that
064go on, the parents are also looking forward to start that very next Monday on the 26th. That's our only other option after we do that. So if we add days or take, I have no other days aside from Memorial Day to take from this year. I know that some districts also went into their spring break. They went into the Fridays and Thursdays and backed out. I didn't feel that that was conducive to the majority of some people's plans when they're away, in terms of their way. The one thing I want to say is this. If there are plans and there's something you wouldn't put in a letter but hearing it in a person note, if people have plans on Friday, if it is something they're celebrating and recognize, celebrate and recognize it with your family.
065It is a day of school, however, that shouldn't prohibit people from doing what they would normally do to celebrate a religious holiday. The next day on top of that, in the event that something happens, because there's a lot of school left going forward, I don't anticipate anything happening, is the Monday of Passover. So Passover begins at sundown. That would be a short session day for students and staff as well. So recognizing that it was a good Friday in terms of the lead up and coming back early, I felt that the lead up and going into it as a full day, as a half day, was an easier strategy, but was given a lot of consideration as well. So I also just want to recognize the consideration, the grappling that kind of goes on as to
066where I'm taking the day from. but thank you for your comment and I appreciate that and I certainly don't want anyone to be discouraged and should continue to have their plans and move forward as they would if it has a religious exemption for it provides to the district okay thank you close that so action items Would somebody like to make a motion on the five action items recommended? Any discussion on those five items or questions? Then roll call when you're ready, please. On the five, one through five superintendent action items, Mr. Cameron? Yes. Mrs. DeNoya? Yes. Mrs. Dillon? Yes. Mrs. Dimes? Yes. Mr. Arrico? Yes. Mr. Rignetta? Yes. Mrs. Volpe? Yes. Mr. Walsh? Yes. Motion passed. Thank you. That brings us to the one item under buildings and ground safety and security. Would anyone like
067to make a motion? Motion. Anyone second? Second. Any discussion or questions? Hearing none, roll call when you're ready. B&G item number one. Mr. Cameron? Yes. Mrs. DeNoya? Yes. Mrs. Dillon? Yes. Mrs. Dimes? Yes. Mr. Arrico? Yes. Mr. Ragnano? Yes. Mrs. Volpe? Yes. Mr. Walsh? Yes. Thank you. The motion carried. And under curriculum we have items 1 and then a very lengthy number 2. Is that it? Yes. So just items 1 and 2. Would anyone like to make a motion? Motion. Second. Okay. Any discussion or questions? I do have something to add, and I know it's a sensitive subject for a lot of people, but I come from where I come from, and I believe what I believe. And as we've said, for me, the attachment C-1 in item number one has reimbursements when teachers and
068administrators go on to seminars or things like that. We pay for the registration fee. I'm all in favor of that as teachers and administrators go to conferences or seminars to learn more. I think it's healthy and worth the district approving it. But there was one added on here. I don't know if everybody got to see it on the revised agenda. That had one of our administrators a higher paid individual that is going to a three-day conference in Atlantic City which I have no problem with and but he's also asking for the board to cover a hotel and Food while they're there and for me personally I don't do it in my other public entity where I work and I would not be in favor of it here I think at that point If an administrator
069is going to a seminar for two or three days, especially when it's in Atlantic City, they're getting three paid days to go down there on the taxpayers, their registration and their mileage and tolls are paid. But I don't believe we should pay for the hotel. I believe they should go and for meals, they should make their own decisions on that and pay for it themselves. So for me, I would only be in favor of. the attachment c1 if the meals and lodging were eliminated, but we'll see where the rest of the board feels. I didn't see any allowable expenses and their contracts and also general acceptance. So there's there's contractual obligations that afford them opportunities for reimbursement of mileage travel all of those things which are part of the contract So that being said we
070have a motion in a second To vote on so I guess we should we need to have a vote on the those two items with The c1 as it is with the meals in the room. So could I have a roll call please? Yes, mr. Camera no Motion did not carry. Then I'd like to ask for a motion to again consider items 1 and 2 under curriculum but with the attachment C1 being revised to not cover the room or meals that are currently on it. Do I get a motion? No. Second. Any discussion or comments? So if this is a contractual obligation, this is something that is in their contract that is allowable. So I'm not sure how we even have the opportunity to deny them what is in their contract and what's been negotiated.
071I haven't seen the contract. Sometimes things are allowable, sometimes they're mandatory. I'm not sure. If it's allowable, I would still say no. And on this one, I feel comfortable saying no, and then we'll find out. But I just am against that. I don't think that it's a we'll find out. We have a contractual obligation that if they want to take what they are allowed, it is not our job to tell them you cannot take what you're allowed in your contract. As I said, if the contract language is that it's mandatory, that they're entitled to it versus that it's an allowable thing for them to request, I don't know. Is the superintendent or administrator? I think it's his. I can tell that I'm most positive it's his. Sure. So don't I think just in, you know,
072for any time that I have traveled, it is customary that your hotel, whether it's, you know, I travel for work and I have an amount that I could go up to, right? So I have to be responsible if I want to stay at a $300 night at a hotel. I could, you know, what's the difference if I'm allowed $99 and that's what I find. But when you're traveling for three days, it is customary that you have to eat, right, while you're there. And everything that they're doing, if it's an allowed conference. meals and hotel that's that standard even you know but saying that somebody is is high paid that is obviously uh objective right not saying subjective thank you subjective um so i don't think that's fair to say that someone is high paid and
073therefore should not be allowed to take their reimbursement. So because I think when you look at it over the course of a year, if now they're looking at, let's say if they have conferences, attend conferences three to four times a year, now you're looking at $300 four times a year or something of that sort, and it does start to add up. It's just if it is something that we did contract for and it is something that is in their agreement, it is something that they should be reimbursed for. Sure. If it's mandatory, then I would. But to several of your points, one, you don't work for a public entity, do you, or private? So I work for a public entity and have for 30 some years and yes it was customary decades ago to regularly
074let people go to conventions and pay for rooms and pay for meals but as taxes have gotten tougher on people public entities are very different than private at this point many of them including where I work do not allow that they and it said I think it's enough for the taxpayers to take care of the fact that for three days They're paying for somebody to go to a convention and that they're paying for the registration and for the tolls. But I think the employee can make, especially in Atlantic City, the employee can make the decision if they want to drive back and forth, which I know would increase tolls and gas as well. But I don't believe. Taxpayer dollars should pay for that. If it's a Decades no, I don't think it was two separate
075statements. We we did used to have the ability for our public employees to get reimbursed for rooms and and at one point we even paid for the rooms in advance, but At this point, we do not allow it. And many public entities have cut back because the taxpayers, I don't believe, should be paying for that. And if it's mandatory in the contract, then we're stuck with it. But I can tell you if I'm involved in the next contract negotiation, which I can't be directly, but I would hope the board in the next contract negotiation would take that out. So that's how I feel about the subject. Did you get clarification? Yeah, if it's not that clear. before you vote on making changes to see one I don't think that would be wise because as we've
076said you we like to let the Certainly the employee should know if it's being covered and this particular conference is March 18th to the 20th next week. So My preference is to tell them You know, thank you, you can go to the conference, but you have to cover your own rooms. If that brings a grievance, what could happen is if that's mandatory in the language in the contract, then I'm sure we'll get a grievance from that. Well, I'm not sure. I would hope they would care enough to pay for themselves. But if we get a grievance on that, then we would deal with the grievance. I'm sorry, did you just suggest that an employee may not care enough if they do not pay for their own room? They may not care enough to pay for
077their own room and then instead file a grievance to demand that money. They don't have to file a grievance. That's the way it works. So anyway that being said Yes, that is Without the cost of just a group I believe that's the motion on the table, but if not as the superintendent said I would clear it up the motion which i believe got a first and a second was to approve both items number one and two but with schedule c1 being amended to take out the lodging and the meals do you have to have that in right like i just need to because generally this isn't something that we've done before to say hey here's the reverse is it so the revision that came has the lodging and the meals on it. So you want
078to go back to what the original was? No, because the original one did not even have that person going to this event, if I remember it right. So it's easier to just say, we're taking out the meals and the lodging, and you can vote the way you feel about it. But I think that's the motion is to have schedule C1 amended so that it pays for everything else but not the room and food. So if everybody's clear on the motion and done with discussion, we can have a roll call. I just want to point out, I think what you meant is that he cares enough to still go to the conference. He not cares enough that... Honestly, I forget in what context I said it, but I don't see any reason to even argue about
079it. My point is clear. Taxpayer dollars should not have to pay for room and lodging. That's pretty clear. Meals and lodging. Correct. So, roll call if you're ready. No further comments? Mr. Cameron? Yes. Mrs. DeNoia? No. Mr. Dillon? No. Mrs. Dimes? No. Mr. Horiko? Yes. Mr. Rugnetta? Yes. Mrs. Volpe? Yes. Mr. Walsh? Yes. Motion did carry. Thank you very much. We have under finance item 1 through 8, I believe 9. I'm sorry. Right? Yes. Yep. So would anyone like to make a motion on items one through nine under finance? Motion. Second. Any comments or questions? I just have one, and I just want to make it known to the board that on the first item, transfer of funds, I have already communicated with our business administrator and will continue to communicate because I want to
080have the... protocol changed so that we are voting on these transfers prior to them actually being done. And I recognize that a full board vote may not always be possible, depending on the timing, but whether it's the full board whenever possible, or at least the finance chair, board president, and vice president being made aware when there's a request to transfer funds, I think is appropriate. I was maybe not paying enough attention last year, but when I realized this year that this transfer that we were being asked to approve tonight. was actually for a transfer that was done in January, it just doesn't make sense to me. So I'd like to continue to have that discussion. But that being said, if there's no other comments, we can have a roll call. On finance items 1 through
0819, Mr. Cameron? Yes. Mrs. Dinoy? Yes. Mrs. Dillon? Yes. Mrs. Dunn? Yes. Mr. Arrico? Yes. Mr. Regnetta? Yes. Mrs. Volpe? Yes. Mr. Walsh? Yes. motion carried thank you and under policy we have just one item but there's two actions on there um because it's both for adoption of the student representatives of the board of education if this doesn't pass tonight there are no student representatives and the second one is uh homework policy so looking for a motion on item number one under policy Thank you any comments or questions No changes have been made since you initially sent your request for the change to the regulation to Dr. Garibay early on in your term. I think this needs to go back to policy for tweaking so that we can find a way to make it manageable
082for our teachers and meet your specific requirements on this regulation because it's coming from you. It hasn't been properly... I think there's a motion on the floor already. We're just discussing the motion that's on the floor. You can vote how you want to vote and then see if there's room for another one. Any other comments or questions? Yes, my comments stay from this. This is the same comments that I made last week. Our job as a Board of Education is to not run the schools. It's to see that they're well run. This regulation is very overarching into the schools to tell the teachers how to do their jobs, which is not on us. The feedback that did come back from the teachers was simply a survey asking how many of them use the Google Classroom,
083how many regularly post it. but not a feeling about the change in the regulation. So again, that is our job as Board of Education members is to solicit feedback from our stakeholders. Some of which are students that are here, right, on a universal homework policy, and then also our educators. And we have not done that. So the survey did get feedback as to who's doing it, but not a feeling as to what a universal homework policy would be. So again, we are overreaching in our capacity as Board of Education members. We are limited to making policy, not even regulation. So the regulation is actually left more so to the superintendent, not to the Board of Education members. So if anything, it should be changed to a policy instead of a regulation. I don't agree with
084it even if it was a policy because I think it's just too overreaching into the classroom. But I do think that there needs to be more feedback. We have not really had a working session as a board of the whole yet. So again. Right, so there hasn't been discussions other than just comments and then a motion afterwards. So we have not been able to sit down and really vet out what this looks like, what a universal homework policy looks like. I know I have kids that are older and have gone through the school district and not have a universal. This is what time homework's done. I have one in middle school, and I have one in first grade. So I know how differently the policy looks and how it looks for different grade levels. So
085my reasoning for not voting yes last week stands the same as it does, will stand the same as it does this week. But I would like to look at it again to say that this is just far beyond our capacity as board members and it goes against our code of ethics. Thank you. I disagree that it's overreaching and I disagree that there was no further follow-up. I thought you Didn't we receive in last Friday's the follow-up? the people who are doing this every day. Our teachers are highly educated. I think they are more than capable to adapt to this minor change. And that's it. So to that point, hang on one sec. To that point, they can hand in homework whenever? What if they hand in homework after the test? When we were all kids,
086we handed in homework the day of, not even the day of, the morning, the day of the class, we handed in our homework. And the teachers, they did their curriculum, they did their, what they were going to do for the week. before the week started, not the day of or the night of after midnight. But I think the change and difference now is that they do have technology where now we have like IXL and they've got different programs that adapt to the level of where the kids are at. So a lot of the feedback, and I had said last week, I was on virtual, I didn't know if everyone could hear me, but the reason why we didn't make this policy change, and it's not, and I'm sorry Mrs. Bolby, it's not minuscule, it is
087asking... all teachers to change the way they do so you i do agree that our teachers are capable and that they are able to run the classrooms. But it's not a recommendation though right now. It's a regulation. So it's not a recommendation. We are now telling the teachers how to run the classrooms when they've already effectively been running their classrooms. So in my eyes, this is not miniscule. Correct. And some students do learn. Correct, but each student each teacher runs their classroom the way they see fit so some kids are not as tech savvy Right, so we're talking now about making a universal policy for grade levels. You know I have a son that's in first grade I can't imagine him like even comprehending on Google classroom how to navigate through that and even in
088parent advisory Right. As I am with all of my children. I don't agree. We had the parent advisory, right? So I was able to sit in with the parent advisory yesterday. And there was a huge, there's a huge confusion with the amount of technology because we're a lot older, right, than our kids are. Our kids are much more tech savvy than we are. I had a conversation today where I was like, I didn't even know there was a grade book on Genesis, you know, that I looked at. on Google Classroom, I know how to look on the notepad, I know how to look on things, but just as you did, I attend back to school night, right? We go to back to school night and we learn how each teacher runs their classroom. And we
089learn either their teaching their students how to be responsible for themselves, either some of them say, hey, you have to write your homework, right, on your notepad and things like that. And some of that is teaching our kids how to be responsible and how to be independent and how to learn these skills on their own rather than coming home and saying, okay, mom's going to look over and have to tell me everything. It's learning these independent skills because that's what we do in every single one of our schools is primary is preparing them for elementary. Elementary is preparing them for middle school. Middle school is preparing them for the high school. High school is preparing them for college where you won't be on top of them, right? I don't know. You might be checking in
090college. You might. I mean. I mean, I check my college, too. I'm just saying. But everything that they're doing is preparing them for the next step. So I think that in each classroom, every teacher should be able to have the ability to run their homework policy the way that they see fit for their students. Because your classroom with your children and my classroom with my children and all the way down the line, every single one looks different. The homework that they give out, the way that they administer it. the time frame. So the biggest feedback that we got when we first looked at this policy was I am able to look at homework if it comes at nine o'clock at night and I could see, okay, these four had trouble with the homework, but these
091five mastered it. Okay. In the morning I need to work with these four to help with the mastery of the skill and these five have gotten it. So I'm going to change it. Education has changed since we were in school, since everybody got the same homework, since everybody got the same assignments. It has changed now to this small group learning, and especially in a district where we have, most of the time, less than 20 kids in a classroom, that those individual education plans can be tailored for each day, and that they can walk in and a teacher can say, Amy had trouble with, you know, the homework and couldn't master X, Y, and Z. And in the morning have a plan. Now, if I'm handing in my homework at 9 o'clock in the morning or
092whatever time I walk in, we may not have that and you're kind of playing catch up and maybe now the teacher's checking it on their prep break or things of that sort. So, again, my comments from last week were we went to the stakeholders. We did engage the teachers in this. And it doesn't seem that it is our responsibility. as board members to walk into the classroom and tell a teacher how to administer their homework when it should be due. And like I had said, I am absolutely sure that if you had a certain circumstance where your kid does a certain sport one night and it's very late and you say, my kid can't get the homework in until the morning, is that okay? You know, there are always exceptions to the rules, but putting
093a hard regulation, not a policy, it's not a recommendation at this point, a regulation is saying it has to be this way. So that's why I just differ with you in the opinion that it's a recommendation. I meant a regulation. Oh, got it. I don't want to belabor this minutia. Guys, yeah, I'm not saying I'm cutting it off yet, but I am going to say a few points to clarify because they were said, and I am going to ask everyone to stop having this same conversation we've already had. To repeatedly say I'm for this or I'm against it is not, I don't find it constructive, and I don't think it's a good use of time. But I do have to address a few things that were said. That policy does recognize the age difference. If
094I remember, I think it starts at third grade when they have to post on Google Classroom, not for the little kids. Secondly, this is not brand new to have a homework policy. These are amendments to the existing homework policy. So certainly it's within the realm of this board to address homework and not just let every classroom operate however they want. It's not a new idea to have a homework policy. It was already there. This one says that they can't require the homework in before the next school day and that what the assignment was has to be posted on Google Classroom. And I extremely disagree with the fact that it was said that there was no follow-up to the first survey when there certainly was, when the superintendent certainly gave us that feedback in her Friday
095report, and when it was considered by a lot of people. That remark that, you know, well, that feedback was never considered or whatever you said, it's just not true. I know I read all the responses. I know I considered it. So if you did not do that, that's okay. But don't say the board didn't consider. Well, what did you say? Well, look, I'm not going to go back and forth. If anybody has something new on this idea, I'd be glad to hear it. But let's not go back and forth. Okay. I think I have just a couple, you know, I echo a lot of the same sentiments, but I think that. It's a workable regulation if we can add in some flexibility and maybe room for some exceptions. Because I think as the regulation stands,
096first of all, having Google Classroom named in there, obviously it's like red tape if we ever do change the platform that the teachers are using. I think in the survey, half of the teachers were not using Google Classroom. Again, I don't know what the grade levels are for that, so that could have been for the other grades, and I do recognize that. But I think that in the parent advisory committee, one thing that we always came back to was kind of the teacher setting expectations for how they run their classroom and how that can really help manage your child's year and make it the best year possible. And so if a teacher can kind of create, have the autonomy to create her own way of doing things, as long as the parents and the students
097are aware of what that practice is. you know again that's i believe that that would be good now i know that that's not really a new thing so what i wanted to say was i think that the students should be um involved more in the decision you know in the spirit of of what we did tonight and hearing from these students like maybe there can be a poll for the students on how they feel about this regulation um you know it seems like everybody's kind of on on board with something like that and we haven't done that yet and they are technically stakeholders here um and one other thing that i wanted to say is Right now, the regulation applies to all teachers, and I just think that there are related arts teachers, there's speech
098teachers, there's special needs teachers that this just won't work for because it's just too much of a blanket policy and regulation. And so I understand what you're trying to achieve. I have younger kids right now, but I know that they're just going to get busier and busier, and that I want to be able to give them the flexibility to... speak to a teacher or hand in the assignment in the morning as opposed to 11 59 at night or whatever it might be so i i understand what you're trying to do but i just think right now it's too it's just too vast and it needs to be um there needs to be some exceptions kind of baked into the regulation to make it more workable for the staff support i appreciate the comments on that
099one the one it reminds me that one of the some of the comments that i that we did get back that I thought were valid but I thought can easily be worked within this policy the way it's set now to be adopted is that some teachers did say I'm not real clear do are you saying that every like the assignment itself has to be on Google classroom and my intention just like you said is a very simple one it would be that the superintendent could let them know that no all you need to do is make sure that you're posting at a minimum that what the assignment was and it's to let parents be able to know that part the other part is because of student schedules as we've always said we don't want to
100make it mandatory that the homework has to be in any time prior to the start of the next school day. That was always the case prior to the COVID and remote stuff when they could do that. And I think it's better that because kids keep all different schedules. That's one part. The second part is about posting on Google Classroom. And that's simply to be that if a kid misses school or is late for school or somehow doesn't get the assignment, any child or parent then could go see that, oh, we were supposed to read. this this is tonight that doesn't mean that thing they were supposed to read has to be posted on google classroom just the assignment so i think it's clear unless there's anything new i think we should uh i just have
101one more comment dr garibay sent the policy committee a very thoughtful email this morning regarding this regulation with language that could be added that would make it more flexible as opposed to Google Classroom? Should we not have Google Classroom in years to come? Sorry, I didn't want to be rude. I was asking Dr. Garibay if I was included because I didn't remember seeing that. There was a communication going back and forth. And so then did you get any feedback from policy committee people? No. No feedback on anything? From what I said, no. Yeah. which i'd seen it what would do you know what the recommended changes which is why i'm recommending it just go back to policy again we have a difference of opinion thing we vote on things all the time they get amended
102all the time some people feel things should be studied for a really long time i i think it's clear to everybody here i think if we got the basic essence of something right we should do it and then if we need to adapt it we'll adopt it adapt it um i don't think things should be studied for months and sometimes years and I don't want to bring up all the examples but we've had lots of things that have been in front of boards died off in committees or get brought back to life years later because somebody is finally ready to move forward um was there was it to the regarding the aspect of posting on google classroom or the uh when the assignment has to be in What I said was that teachers of students
103in grades 3 to 8 must clearly communicate expectations regarding the use of digital platforms for homework assignments to students and parents slash guardians. Teachers should inform parents and guardians about homework assignments expectations and the use of digital platforms through clear and regular communication channels. Exceptions to this regulation shall be permitted based upon the unique nature of a teacher's program. Yeah, all except for the last part. I think that wording is better. It's more clear. I don't know, because with the last part, did you say exception is going to be like who? Only by the superintendent, or how would it? You can't have that just decided to me. Yeah, I would imagine it would be a distinction of the building principal. you know, or does he need to say that, you know, that that's not a
104Google Classroom in terms of that? Well, I'd be comfortable with the language, except for the exception part. It covers what Brenna, I think, brought up about, like, whatever the electronic platform is. That's great. That's good input. I had not seen it, and it's solid. It's something new. And I would say that's the way the, and I don't believe that that's anywhere close to, I think that's a de minimis change. It's describing the, it's calling it any electronic platform versus Google Classroom. So I don't think it needs a new first reading. I think it can be amended because you can amend a policy or anything on second reading if it's a minor change or a diminutiveness. No, that's not how it works. We can disagree or not, or we can take a vote. And unless there's
105anything new, I'd like to make it clear that there's a motion and a second to adopt both of these policies with the wording in the homework policy being adapted to say, instead of calling out Google Classroom, that it says on an electronic platform. All right, so can we get a roll call? Thank you. With just for a clarification without the statement or do you want to add it at the discretion of the principal? Exceptions this regulation shall be permitted based upon the unique nature of a teacher's program upon approval by the principal or designate. Okay. Upon approval by the designate. Yeah. Upon approval by the. I'm good with that. Okay. I'll add it in right now. Does that end? Yeah. Upon approval by the principal or designate. Okay. Exceptions. Exceptions are approved. Exceptions to this
106regulation shall be permitted based upon the unique nature of a teacher's program. I think your teachers are great and they're so talented enough and they're knowing enough that the day that school happens, the day of school when they're doing that lesson and they get the homework out, what that is, they can see what the child is when they're giving out that homework on the day of. And I don't think after midnight a lot of teachers have the time to change their school lesson plans or even day of and know what they're going to do. And even if they do, I'm sorry, but if a child goes to bed super early and gets up at 5 in the morning to do their homework, then I think they should be allowed to do that. Oh, thanks, girls.
107Anyway, so now we have a motion and a second with, I think, a clear change to the language regarding the Google Classroom posting. So if we can get a roll call, that would be great. Mr. Camera? Yes. Mrs. DeNoya? Yes to one, no to two. How does that work? They're not split up. But they're two different bylaws. You can definitely vote yes. I just want to make sure because I'm voting no to one. Okay. Mrs. Dillon? Because the line with the exceptions was put in there, I'm voting yes. This is dimes. So yes, absolutely to p1 very excited, but no to p2 Mr. Rico P2 is the attachment I warned you guys things to be spirited and heated sometimes. It's all good. That's the way it's got to work. Nothing personal from hopefully. Nothing under
108negotiations or transportation. Beautiful. So we're personnel items one through 12. Would somebody like to make a motion on personnel items 1 through 12? Any comments or questions? I'm looking forward to recognizing autism in the school district in April. Dear to me. All special needs students, autistic students. Really special in my heart. Okay. Mr. Cannon. Roll call, please. Yes. Mrs. Denoia. Yes. Mrs. Dillon. Yes. Thank you very much and this is the tonight yes no executive so this is the final part of the meeting where it's new business to be brought up but not by the audience they had their public comment so now it's if any board members have anything new that wasn't not on the agenda they get to bring it up now I know we're in a transition period of trying to figure
109out how we're working this, but... Frankly, I don't feel comfortable having my name in a committee and on the website if I have no idea other than the Friday update which are great, but I'm not, you know, I didn't know about meeting with the police department. I used to love those types of meetings with buildings and grounds. That was something that I really loved being a part of. And I'm just disappointed that my name is a part of these committees, but none of my input is. And so, you know, I don't know where I'm going with it right now, but I just wanted to state that I haven't been involved. Honestly, publicly, I just wanted to say I had no idea about any of the things that were going on in the other committees that
110my name is a part of. And until we kind of figure out how we're working this committee of a whole universe. I can bring that somewhere for you then because I believe Obviously there's a transition time and it's new for a lot of people But I think that and I thought we I know we've been doing it with certain committees But if there's I don't if there's not a committee meeting there's not a committee meeting, but if there's a committee meeting Certainly everybody on that committee needs to be advised. I don't know if there's a different title. If we really do move away from committees, maybe these chairs can have a different title that, you know, a designee for these things to report out on during meetings. But again, it's more just like having my
111name tied to these committees that I don't really know much about right now. I think we... I don't like, so I don't... I need to think about it more, but, you know, I'm not proposing that I want to be removed from them, but I just... I'm saying clearly to the committee chairs that they know it's new and they need to be sure that they're involving the committee members when they're doing any committee meetings and certainly down the road if that doesn't happen. about things that the committee should know about. We don't have to meet about it, but I would like to be involved in the emails and the conversations. And I think everyone on the committee should be, anytime it rises to that level, if, as we move on, you or anybody else has a
112concern that any particular committee, they don't feel like they're getting that involvement and they don't want to be on it, certainly that's not hard to take you off. Another, so I was here virtual, but I did watch everything about the committee as a whole. So the role of the board now, so we've now gone down to one meeting, but we're not having a working session. I was surprised about certain things that did happen that I was not made aware of. There was a letter that went out about the live streaming, which Mrs. Volpe, I know that that was like a big thing for you, and kudos to you and also to the student liaisons. I know those were two really big things for you that you should be very proud that they got done and
113very quickly. But there was no discussion, so some of the things with the live streaming. Cost was obviously one of the factors, but there's still a concern of if we have to move into the cafeteria, like what we're doing there, if there's no continuity. And there was no discussion about that. I understand we got it done, and it's here, and it's exciting. But there are certain things that we still didn't vet out. What happens if we move into a different location? Or now we do have student liaisons. They were only made aware, you know, kind of after you had said we're doing live streaming, that there may be children here that may not be comfortable being on YouTube and there's privacy and things of that sort. That did come up. You were part of that
114committee that we did talk about those concerns that still haven't been vetted out. And it seems that we're no longer a board of nine members where we were committees. It seems that the committee chairs are speaking directly and just moving things along where, as a board of the whole, we are supposed to be sitting in working meetings and vetting everything out. taking all the information. I just heard for the first time from communications that we're sending out a survey. I'm part of that committee and haven't heard anything about it. Haven't seen any language, didn't know anything about it. And that's typically how, as a committee member, we would have all been involved in that. But then as a board of a whole, we should all be involved in that. So there has to be some...
115structure, right, as to where the communication is flowing. And it seems that as a board of a whole, we are not discussing things in emails or privately that everything's here out on the table. So that was my understanding, but it seems that there's things that are being done without communication with the entire board. Well, no, actually, we're not supposed to technically. Everything is supposed to go through the board president. So we are lucky, right, that typically we do go through the board president to speak with the superintendent. That's how it typically has been. We're very lucky that Dr. Garibay does have kind of an open-door policy. That's what I meant. Right, right, right. Typically the communications from board members just as like we would typically as a board member not communicate directly with any Administrators
116or anything about so we would go through superintendent. That's how it typically does work Just we're lucky as our board that our superintendent does, you know is more open But any information that we do have is supposed to be shared among all of us and then discussed so the same thing like the regulation You said you weren't aware of the policy right that there was working the policy that should have been discussed here in open forum That's the whole point of a board of a whole not to have private conversations in email or just with the superintendent or just as a chair and then move things forward so, you know I'm not a committee chair any longer. There are multiple people who are chairing additional two or whatever things. So it kind of feels like
117we've been taken out of the loop a little bit, which I don't appreciate. So if we're going to move to a board of the whole, then we have to do the work as a board of the whole. So if there's communication or things of that sort, then we have to have another working session, which is my understanding of when we had the presentation last week. So a couple things on those points. I don't did you want to say something? Yeah, I just wanted to comment. Just to make my impression with the board liaison with the children, I did address the committee a few times on that report. So it was put on the board. Yeah, we definitely talked about that. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. I don't feel like I've ever said that. No, I said
118I am commending you. I think this is wonderful. I'm truly saying that this was a wonderful thing. And the other thing with the live streaming, I'll be honest with you, the past board, which you were included, it was going on. almost two years, I was advocating constantly in meetings to get livestream up so the public could see the disaster that happened with the transgender policy and how we were attacked by outsiders and the whole public didn't even know what was going on. When I used to bring it up to them, they said, why don't we have livestream? So the past board, including yourself, It kept going back into policy. But the reason, and also, Mr. Cameron was on that committee with me, and we had decided there was privacy issues that were brought up, right,
119that are, that... We had talked about that there are certain things that, you know, I don't know that I feel comfortable having my child live stream on YouTube where anybody can go into it. We don't have certain privacy settings. We don't know who's logging into that. We don't know who's watching these presentations. When we have, at the end of the year, we typically have a very big ceremony where our kids are coming and they've got big signs and things like that. I don't know if we need to have a sign outside of the door that says, hey, you're being recorded. Well, she made it very clear. She sent it out to the whole district. I don't see where the disconnect is. She sent it out to every parent here. Like I said, the children could
120have had the option of not coming here, or we could have worked privately with them. I have no problem with that. No, I understand. But typically, when somebody walks into a room where they're being recorded, there is some sort of... Okay, that's a good point. So going forward, I agree. Just something, like if you walk into this room... They're on the door. It's on the front door and they're on the door. And again, on this one, if I can wrap it up too, I hear what you're saying and agree with a lot of it and just it's a little add-on to what Brenna said. It's a transitional period. I don't believe you have to have the separate, it's not a requirement to have the separate workshop meeting. If we find we need that because we're
121not getting enough done either through... other communications and or at the actual meetings when we meet certainly the more controversial issues we've done we've vetted them out thoroughly I think at these meetings but the main thing I would like to say is both again to the finance to the all the chair people be cognizant of communication with your other people on your board and Superintendent I'll still say it this way and ask you to be even more cognizant. You've been great You're the one who's told me and asked me several times Just with you or do you want the Finance Committee involved? I'm just asking you to do the same thing maybe with the chairs saying hey This is kind of thing you might want to have the whole committee involved No, I think it's
122good it'll be a work in progress and the second level of that that I think Amy was Getting to not saying you didn't say correctly. I'm just not sure how I heard it is even more than that. Even if a whole committee is aware of something, being as a board of the whole, I think your Friday reports have been great and maybe be even a little more aware that something other than the normal routine stuff that's going to be on the agenda that was thoroughly vetted out with the committee gets in the Friday report so we all know it's coming. That's the way to make that work. All right anything else Thanks for pulling that together we wanted to done it if somebody's anyway Then I'm gonna ask for an adjournment Motion passed. Nobody wants
123to quit, right? You can deal with this every now and then. All right, good. I'm glad you joined us. Good deal. All good. Thanks, guys. Really. Bye, Sean. Very nice meeting you. Good job. Thank you very much for coming. Thank you. Thank you for being here. Thank you.