001I'd like to >> I'd like to call the meeting >> to order. >> Okay. So, in accordance with the provisions of the New Jersey Open Public Meeting Act of 1975 and the Ottabon Board of Education transmitted notice of the meeting scheduled at 700 p.m. in the Ottabon Junior Senior High School Media Center to the Retrospect newspaper and the Burough Clerk by the postings on the Ottabon Public School District website and the main and the Pine Street entrances of the junior senior high school. Could I please uh have flag salute? Stanford flag salute >> 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. >> Okay. On our agenda, you will notice the board election results for our
002board candidates. Um the three highest uh or votes were Mrs. or Amy L. Davis, Sarah Joy Cullen, and Steven Wilson. Um so at this time, I would like them to stand up in the front and I will administer the oath of office to you. You all should have the oath of office in your packet. You could bring that with you. >> Oh, yeah. Don't worry. >> Hold on a minute. Let my Okay. So formal everybody. Okay. So if you would like to raise your right hand and then repeat after me. I state your name. >> I >> do solemnly swear or affirm >> domly swear or >> that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey >> that I will support the Constitution of the
003United States. State of New Jersey >> and that I will bear truth, faith, and allegiance to the same >> and that I will bear true to the same >> and to the governments established in the United States and this state >> and to the government established in the United States and this state >> under the authority of the people. So help me God. >> under the authority of the people. So help me God. >> I state your name. I, Amy Davis, >> do solemnly swear or affirm >> do solemnly swear >> that I possess the qualifications prescribed by the law for the office of member of a board of education. >> I possess the qualifications prescribed by law of education. >> I am not disqualified as a voter pursuant to RS1941. And I'm not disqualified
004as a voter. I am not disqualified due to conviction of a crime or offense listed in NJSA 12-1 disqualified due to conviction of a crime >> and that I will faithfully impartially and justly perform all the duties of that office >> and that I will faithfully and justly perform all the duties of that office [laughter] >> according to the best of my ability. So help me God. >> According to the best of my ability. >> Okay. Congratulations. >> As you can Okay. >> Oh, yeah. All right. So, um, at this time I'm just going to take God bless you. A roll call. So, Mark Gaddy >> here, >> Alison Lipsky >> here, >> Bill Wilson, >> Alison Cox, >> Danielle D. Franchesco, >> Andrea Robinson >> here, >> Amy Davis >> here, >> Sarah Cen,
005>> Steven Wilson. >> At this time, uh, our malnir rep is uh to be determined. Okay. So, I am now going to call for um to open up the nominations for president of the board. Could I have a motion to open the nominations? >> Second. >> Okay. >> All All in >> All in favor? >> Okay. Uh, nays ab what do we normally say? >> Nay, yay. >> Exceptions. Okay, thank you. All right, so we're good there. Okay. Um, so the floor is open for any nominations. >> I'd like to make a nomination. >> Okay. Second. [snorts] Any other nominations? >> Great. Great. [laughter] Okay. Could I have a motion to close the nominations? >> Second. >> Okay. All in favor? >> I. >> All right. Nays. Abstensions. Okay. Uh now, um I need a
006Oh, a roll call. Right. >> Okay. Now I am doing going to do roll call for for uh voting of Mrs. Amy Davis as board president. Allison Cox, >> yes. >> Danielle de Franchesco, >> Mark Gaddy, >> Sarah Coen, Alison Lipsky, >> yes. >> Andrea Robinson, >> yes. >> Bill Wilson, >> Stephen Wilson, >> yes. >> Amy Davis, >> okay, motions passed. And I would now like uh Mrs. Davis to take the meeting over. All right. Um, thank you guys. I appreciate once again the confidence for another journey around the sun uh in this position. Um, I don't take the responsibility lightly and I uh really respect and appreciate all the support from everybody. So, thank you. All right. Next, I would like to call for nominations for the office of vice president of the
007board. Can I have a motion? >> All in favor? >> Any opposed? >> All right. Motion, please. Or nominations then for vice president of the board. I move to nominate for vice president. Any other nominations? All right, seeing none, I'd like to ask for a motion to close nominations. All right. And now I would like to um have roll call, please for the office of vice president for Allison Cox. >> Danielle G. Franchesco, >> Mark Gaddy. >> Yes. >> Sarah Cen, >> Alison Lipsky, >> yes. >> Andrea Robinson, >> Bill Wilson, >> Steven Wilson, >> yes. >> Allison Cox, >> yes. >> Amy Davis, >> yes. >> Motions passed. >> All right. I declare Allison Cox, vice president of the board of education. [applause] [cheering] >> [clears throat] >> It's an equally vital crown. [laughter]
008Okay. Uh moving on to item number three. We have a motion to approve the more the more oh boy the board meeting dates for the period of January 7th, 2026 through January 6th, 2027. The meetings will begin as noted with executive close session at 6:30 followed by the action meeting at 7 except for the reorg meeting on January 6th which will start at seven. So can I have a motion please for um it's actually item number three. >> Oh, we don't have printed copies. >> We had them last time >> but we discussed changing >> Yes. Uh Would you like me to read off the dates? >> Well, isn't it Shouldn't it be linked in our agenda if we have a device? >> It is. >> Yeah. >> Okay. The only date that we changed
009was >> Hang on. I need a motion first. Can I get a motion? >> Motion. Second. >> Okay. Any um questions, comments, or discussion about the board meeting dates? Mrs. Ron Case. >> Okay. So the we did discuss this in December board meeting and the one that uh >> we changed from the original was our October board meeting. We made it the second Wednesday which is October 14th um due to the New Jersey school board's uh convention the third week of of October. And at uh break I will go make copies. So we just have So you do have a hard copy. >> Yes. [snorts] Where'd it go? Come on. >> Anybody find anything? >> Correct. Those are Yeah, those are historically changed because of the May 15th deadline for contracts and then graduation. >>
010I'm waiting for the internet to cooperate. >> Okay. Everything else >> go right ahead. >> Sometimes you know We have four of certain meetings like on Monday I can preer is automatically put in or not. >> Yeah, the committee on >> well most I send out most of the committees but the one time Alison had done too but I don't think any of the other ones did >> but I have the access to everybody's email and it's easy for me to do that if you want me to. I can put them all in there and I've been putting the committees with what building we're going to as well so that I know if you have a thing that pops up tells you what building we're going to >> is it difficult to do >> no
011it's not not at all >> I mean but time consuming >> no I'm going to put them on my calendar anyway all invite boil Okay. Are we good on that then? >> No other conflicts, right? Okay. All right. Um, can I have roll call, please, then? >> Mark Gaddy? >> Yes. >> Sarah Cen, >> Alison Lipsky? >> Yes. >> Andrea Robinson? >> Bill Wilson. Steven Wilson. Yes. Alison Cox. >> Yes. >> Danielle D. Franchesco. Amy Davis. >> Yes. >> Motion passed. >> Thank you. >> No. Um I reached out to their uh president today. Uh Miss Allen also spoke to their superintendent. Um >> they asked for volunteers, got none. The superintendent called a couple people to talk to them individually. One uh was going to check with Jonathan about the time commitment. if he
012was interested. He hadn't heard back. So, it sounds like somebody's going to have to be appointed as opposed to volunteered. I also spoke to county office yesterday when we had our midyear budget review and asked them kind of like, "Hey, new kid on the block here. I don't have my person. What do I do?" And she said, "I'll take care of it." So, >> so we're waiting. Um, >> yeah. Okay. >> All right. Um, next we have um our schoolboard ethics training. Miss Garren is going to lead us through that. And remember again that this is a uh statute. This is a requirement that we um have this presented to us and that we take part in it annually. So, Miss Garin, would you like us to all access our presentation? >> Yes. takes a
013while to load. So, let me number one because you all sat through. And I know everybody is obviously excited. Thank you. I could go through the exact same riveting presentation that I did last year, but I thought since everybody's had it already, you probably had your fill. And then I offered to Mrs. Davis to try to do something different and creative and soon discovered I'm not I'm not [laughter] I'm not funny. I'm not creative. I'm your lawyer. So I'm just a t-shirt that says funny. >> I would I will wear that. That actually would be really cool. >> I would I would absolutely wear that shirt to every board meeting I >> All right, this is what I propose we do. >> All right, here we go. >> This is what I propose we do.
014You all have um in your emails my presentation which contains the same advice and case summaries uh as last year. What I would like to do is if you can go through to the sec it we should at least read the code of ethics out loud and remind ourselves what it says and what you're bound to. So I'm going to ask maybe start on this side, Mr. Wilson. uh if if you could start and then if each board member takes a bullet. Um it's it goes over the course of three slides, but let's at least just take a moment to read the code of ethics out loud and remind ourselves what it says. Mr. Wilson, do you mind starting? >> Yeah, don't forget your mic. all of them. Here we go. >> I will confine
015my board action to policym, planning, and appraisal. >> I will help to frame policies and plans only after the board has consulted with those whom the policy will affect. I will carry out my responsibility not to administer the schools but together with my fellow board members to see that they are wellrun. >> I will support and protect school personnel in the proper performance of their duties. >> I will refer all complaints to the chief administrative officer and will act on the complaints at public meetings only after the failure of an administrative solution. I will uphold and enforce all laws, rules, and regulations of the state board of education as well as court orders pertaining to schools. Desired changes shall only be brought about through legal and ethical means/procedures. I will make the educational welfare of
016children. I will make decisions for the educational welfare of children and will seek to develop and maintain public schools that meet the individual needs of all children regardless of their ability, race, creed, sex, or social standing. >> I will recognize that authority rests with the board and will make no personal promises nor take any private action that may compromise the board. I will refuse to surrender my independent judgment to special interest or partisan political groups or to use the schools for personal gain, the gain of family, or the gain of friends. >> Mr. Wilson, we're back to you. >> This is a good one. I will hold confidential all matters pertaining to the schools, which if disclosed would needlessly injure individuals or the schools. In all other matters, I will provide accurate information and in
017concert with my fellow board members interpret to the staff the aspirations of the community for its school. >> I will vote to appoint the best qualified qualified personnel available after consideration of the recommendation of the chief administrative officer. Um and that is your code of ethics which pretty much encapsulates everything um that is explored and discussed on the ensuing slides. The next slide is uh I'm going to go over this quickly because I consider it the quick tips. All the things that are obvious but need to be said out loud from time to time. All complaints go to Sandy. The superintendent handles complaints. You do not make personal guarantees to anyone that something will or will not be handled in a particular way. Um, you are legally by statute required to consider the recommendations of
018of the superintendent. Um, and I think as we learned through various personnel matters we have handled over the course of the last year, the superintendent by law gets a great deal of difference. um it is your role and the school ethics commission does contemplate that you are active in the community. So go forth and and share with your community members what we are doing, what you are doing, what is happening in the schools, programs, events, policies, discussions, issues. As long as you are providing truthful and complete and accurate information and you do not intentionally mislead the public, you are fine. Um the main do nots are do not violate the chain of command. Do make do not make promises to help or act in complaints until they reach the board level. Is tempting as it
019may be. Do not get involved. Do not bend the rules. What applies to one applies to all. Do not make personal promises that something will or won't happen. Do not become involved in the day-to-day running of the schools. and do not publicly criticize personnel whether you're doing that on social media media or during the course of a board meeting. Um other than that I just want to remind you that uh I know some of you have conflicts when it comes to negotiations. You know who you are. There is a chart u towards the end of the uh presentation about conflicts and what you can and cannot participate in. If you're uh related to anyone who is in a union um whether it's NJA administrators uh or any other union that um actually that's all you
020have here in Ottabon is NJA and administrators. I don't think you have any other unions um and also about volunteering uh because I I it is my experience that this board in particular uh has a very active group of volunteers. you are very involved in your schools and and your children's lives. Um do not ever put yourself in a position where you have to take direction from a school employee. Do not ever put yourself in a position where you are giving direction to a school employee. um volunteer. Uh when it comes to doing things inside the schools, uh your best bet is to make it um sporadic or uh don't be a continuous presence where you are overly overly developing relationships with school personnel that blurs the line between uh governance and uh day-to-day operations
021and administration. And really, those are the big reminders. Um, I ask that you in your spare time uh that you have uh with all of your other board work, take a moment to just go through the presentation, refresh your recollection on all the cases we have already discussed. Actually, I think this is my third year doing your ethics training. So, you would have heard most of these at least two other times. Um, and other than that, does anyone have questions that I could answer or things you wish me to expound upon? [laughter] >> All right. If you find yourself in a situation um where even if it's if it's gray area or you're just not sure or you just don't know, you shoot an email to Amy who shoots an email to me. I give
022you a quick opinion. We get it back. Um it is always better to air on the side of caution and thank you for your time. That is it for ethics. And then do we need we all need to sign >> we need to sign the code of ethics and then that goes back to you Mrs. Ron case right >> yes ma'am. So, just curious if NJSBA is also a good resource for questions about ethics and is it preferred to go to them versus our council or >> Yeah, I was going to say you can always start there. I mean, you can always start there, but I I feel like the the fast the faster track is to email me and then I can reach out to Miss Garren. And a lot of times it seems
023like these are time-sensitive decisions that we have to make. Did you want to add anything to that? >> I just wanted to say um NJSBA will not give you individualized advice. >> Right. It's general. >> Um they will give you general advice. They will talk to you about the rules. They may even like refer you to an opinion that may or may not be relevant. But if you are having in if there is a specific issue you are encountering or you just like find yourself in a situation and you just want clarity, NJSBA will not give you specific legal advice. As the board solicitor, it is my job to do that role. >> Okay. Thank you. >> I'm the lawyer. >> But sometimes you just you like you have just general questions and things like
024that. It may not be something specific to you. So, I mean, that's always a they're always a good resource on just general information like that or a starting point sometimes. Anybody any other other questions? Mr. Gaddy, you look like you were taking a breath there. Okay. Okay. Um, let's see. What do we have next? Governance. So, under governance, um may I have we've got two motions under governance. There's a motion to approve um our compliance with the eth ethics act and then a motion to approve Robert's rule of order as the basis for conduct of all of our meetings. Can I have a motion to approve items one through two under governance? >> Any discussion of items one or two? Not unless you got Oh, okay. I was gonna say not unless you got something
025else to suggest. >> I'm out. [laughter] >> You've already been You've already been appointed. >> I I I can resign. [laughter] >> The shortest term ever. >> Can I have a motion to resign? [snorts] >> All right. Okay. All right. Roll call, please. Sarah Coen, >> yes. >> Alison Lipsky, >> yes. >> Andrea Robinson, >> yes. >> Bill Wilson. >> Steven Wilson, >> yes. >> Alison Cox, >> yes. >> Danielle D. Franchesco, >> Mark Gaddy, >> Amy Davis, >> yes. >> Motion passed. Thank you. >> Says yes. >> TPD. Okay. Uh, there's nothing under operations, education, or human resources. Uh, public participation. Anybody want to say anything? No. Okay. So, we're going to close that portion of the meeting. All right. We do have a couple of things we have to address really quickly here,
026guys. Um, we need a retreat date. It looked like January 17th was more of a conflict for people than when those uh that form was originally filled out. So, it looks like January 17th is kind of off off uh >> this would be in the morning. I can't do February. >> I know it's our birthday, but that's okay. We'll come We'll come in anyway. We'll have a cake. There you go. >> Well, mine is the 6th and hers is the 8th. So, >> Huh? >> Yeah. Your birthday is the sixth and the [laughter] might be the best retreat we had. Shortest retreat we've ever had. All right. So, the seventh is that what we're what we're I feel like there's >> seventh is okay. Okay. >> What about the >> a Sunday? I >> can't
027do >> I'd rather not do a Sunday. >> Okay. Saturday, >> February 7th, we'll do 9 to 12. We'll um >> put it on your calendars right now. Uh, is it here? >> It will be here. We'll have refreshments at 8:30. >> Okay. >> We have to be here at 8:30. >> Well, if well you want >> or if you if you want to just eat. Yes. If you want to eat while working, then no, just come at 9. >> All the board meetings are on your calendars, the school calendar anyway, your school email calendar. And I just put word retreat on there as well. >> All right. I started Okay. So then it's going to be February 7th 9 to 12 here. >> Yes. >> Got it. Okay. I will I started to work
028on the agenda. I will share that with everyone. Um I know we wanted to talk. Yeah. Everyone >> Sheamus. >> Yes. I think Sheamus should definitely come to that. Um I know Mrs. Ken asked us to make sure we talk about um community outreach during the retreat. If there are any other topics or things that you're thinking of, please let me know when I send out the agenda, okay? Thoughts and comments. One of the things that we did last year was anybody that had attended the um the workshop in October, the NJSBA workshop in October, if I gave a little time on the agenda for people to share anything that they had gleaned from their workshops, just as a general group, those of you that were in attendance, are we still in favor with providing
029some time for that? >> Yeah. Okay. All right. Did we still want to do an icebreaker? I know Miss Lipsky has always guided us in an icebreaker. We kind of know each other all by now, but um >> Okay. So, we'll leave that on there then. Okay. Excellent. All right. And then like I said, any other topics that spring to mind, please reach out when I send you that uh rough draft of the agenda. Okay. We do have the um second meet and greet on January 29th at 7. So that's coming up um at the very end of the month. Committee assignments. Deb sent out a form to everybody today. Please fill in uh your heart's desire for committee assignments for next for this year. I shouldn't say next year, for this year. >> No,
030we can't all come. >> There was a sign up. >> Hang on. still >> I'll >> you kind of have to go. >> You didn't sign up as a Did I make sure >> you're >> That was one of the things that we asked. Okay. Okay. So, right now I have uh for the 29th I have Miss Allen, Mrs. Cox, myself, Mr. Gaddy, Miss Lipsky, Mr. Steven Wilson, and Mr. William Wilson. >> 29. >> Yes. >> Seven. Okay. So, who just came off of that? Miss Lipsky and Mrs. Cox. >> I mean, we should have a full representation. Yeah. What time do we say? >> Yeah, that's about right. >> Is there anybody else that wants to go? >> It was actually it was it was nice. >> So, I'm gonna try to get my
031superend spotlight out this week that talks about what board meeting is and what it isn't, why we don't like two conversations. It's not a work session likewood does, what ours is, but that we have a meet and greet. If you want to come and talk to the board, that's the perfect opportunity. So, I'll try to make sure I get that out this week so that I can say, you know, we have board meeting on the 21st. That's our go over what the policies are and me having you guys approve the stuff that's going on. If you want to come to the meet and greet on the 29th, that's an opportunity to have two-way dialogue with some board members. >> We can go up to five. Yeah. >> Is there anybody else that wants to You're
032right. Well, oh my gosh. We should have somebody else by then. >> We should have >> right now. We need to Right. Right now, let's hold it for just to be careful. >> Okay. So, then I'll be that unless >> unless somebody else We've got some time. If somebody else if somebody else wants to jump in, we've got a little time. put a question mark until >> they're on. >> Well, >> you know what? The only >> No, you're off already, Al. >> Um, >> who's who's scheduled to meet next week? That's governance. That's what I'm saying. What happens if we haven't done our Yes. Governance is next week >> scheduled for next week. [laughter] >> Nothing right now. So, you're gonna let me know. Yeah. We also have a couple I have a couple
033things that have come up that we need to address, >> right? >> Besides that, like I've had things that um are >> hot issues. >> Yeah. than whatever hasn't been updated since 2019. >> So, let's do this. Let's do this. >> Okay. Time time out. Time out. >> So, we got to figure out if we're allowed to meet as a committee. >> You're totally allowed to meet as a committee. Mrs. Ron Casease, what was the deadline for the for the um form? >> Friday. >> Was this Friday? >> Let's go ahead. I mean let's go ahead with the with the governance committee as it stands. >> Okay. And then if we need to shuffle or make any adjustments after that we will. I don't want to rush I don't want to cancel the governance committee
034and I don't want to rush the committee assignments right because I don't think anything's to be gained by doing that. So, let's go ahead with the committee as it stood and everybody get me your committee assignments preferences as soon as possible. Um, now we did miss operations um last week. >> Okay. >> Well, we don't know that it's going to be the same. So instead of that, can we meet? >> We don't we can't really even establish a meeting date until we know who's on the committee. >> Okay. Operations is going to need to hold for right now. >> I don't have I mean that's a I mean that's a retreat question I guess but maybe we should that's actually good Miss Robinson to bring that up now. Does is there anyone who thinks we
035need to change the schedule that we've had for the committee the nights that the committees meet like all the different Tuesdays? Are we all >> I love >> Oh, good. I I thought it was amazing as well. I thought it was very predictable. don't fix it. >> Um, I feel like we've had the committees that I've sat in on, we've had in-depth conversations because we haven't been trying to catch up on on so much because it's been, you know, two or three months since you met >> show and tell of different buildings. I think we've been really great with our agendas. We've gotten a whole lot accomplished every time. >> Okay. So, we'll stick with the Tuesdays. That was that was a good point to bring up. >> Yeah. those couple months that it moves
036up, we always have to have a HR before >> Yeah. >> We'll just flip it. >> Yep. >> Yeah. Okay. All right. So, we'll keep it to Tuesdays, get those forms in, and uh as soon as everything's settled, we'll decide on what we're doing with the operations meeting. Maybe we could even do it ahead of the regular board meeting. We'll see. >> Yeah, we'll have to see how I'll see how it shakes out. >> That's another to be determined. Okay. >> Um and then the other thing that I dropped the ball on, um I had reached out to Sarah to Mrs. Coolen about doing the some signage for us on the strategic plan. And um she had emailed me and I'm sorry about this. She emailed me that um with the holidays and and work
037schedules and everything that she was a little overwhelmed. So, um I think that you were saying maybe February you would be able to work on them. Um and now it's January. So, when Mrs. Coolen had first emailed me way back when, we we she was offering that if she couldn't get it done, did we want to go with somebody else? But I I feel like we're so close to February now that maybe we'll just unless Mrs. School doesn't want to do it anymore. Okay. All right. So, um if you're Easy. >> Easy to read. Yeah. >> Yeah. And and I think too like it like just like the highlight like almost like what we had on that little laminated thing. Just the highlights just so it's going to do the mission and vision too. It's
038a separate. >> Yeah. Mission statement, vision statement. something that we can post at all of the meetings um and to be posted in each one of the buildings too. Yeah, >> I think maybe mission and vision should be separate because they are two distinct >> and they're going to stay. >> Yeah, they're a thing, >> right? So, it may be a one-time sorry Mrs. wrong case investment, >> but we can um advertise it over >> Sorry, our budget's frozen. >> We can advertise it over five years, right? >> Sorry, we have no money. >> That was a financial word I used there. Right. >> Our budget's frozen. >> Thank you. She froze us today. >> We'd already talked about that. >> All right, that was the only other thing I had on my list. Anybody
039Anything else that needs to be discussed while we're all together tonight? I think we're in pretty good shape. I'm extremely excited that we're all together again and we're all working together again for another year. >> Um I'm also extremely excited that you know not good we've got a lot of ducks in in a row here for this year and we can just hit the ground running and you know keep going with the forward progress that we've seen so far. So I'm very excited about that and very thankful that we have that opportunity. So all right, no further uh remarks or comments. Then our next meeting, regular meeting is Wednesday, January 21st. Uh executive will be at 6:30 and then the action meeting will start at 7. And I have a motion to adjourn the meeting.
040>> All in favor? Oh, wait. Nobody seconded. >> Several second. >> Okay. All in favor? >> Any opposed? All right. Thank you everyone. Happy new year.