001Good evening everyone. I thank you all for being here tonight. Um tonight is a um exciting night where we get to uh um review our budget for the 2627 school year. So we look forward to that. We did open our meeting earlier um in an executive session to um discuss some matters amongst the board members. Um so we will start right with agenda item F, which is the public comment for agenda items. I did not see anyone signed up, but I will give everyone an opportunity just in case they didn't sign up. Um, does anyone wish to comment on an agenda item? Okay. Um, seeing no public comment, we will move on to agenda item G, which is the presentation of the budget. Okay. >> Everybody hear me? I don't need the microphone. I can
002walk around a little bit. Okay. Um, was anybody here for the tenative budget presentation in March? >> Yes. Good news. Nothing's changed. Only one thing's changed and it's actually good. So I will go through it again uh for for for all intents of purposes but I think it's important to say at this start what you saw in March is what we're doing in there. So that again this is just sort of the process. It started in March. We got our state figures March 12th. We presented the budget March 18th and May 6. It's the public hearing the application of the budget so that your father can send it on. Um what we talked about in March holds true today. We operationalize the board goals and we made them our operational alignment. Those are now the
003district goals and we will build building goals and we build teaching goals and then build learner goals all from a unified perspective. So um operational effectiveness, trust and relationship, overall effectiveness, those are the primary areas when we built the tenative budget. We wanted to make sure that we were talking to the people who were on the ground. We wanted to talk to the teachers. We want to talk to the parents, the administrators about what it is that we needed in our buildings. So we did uh we went through a a reflective process to get feedback on what our our successes were, what our challenges were, what were our needs, and what was our vision. Once we had that information and we put all that information together, it allowed us to sort of build the priorities
004of what our budgets what our budget was going to be, right? So our successes are school culture, community culture, student engagement, teacher collaboration, challenges, behavior, student attendance, student performance, instructional The needs staffing and support, a defined multi-tered system of support for our students, additional mental health services, and better systems district. Vision, student success, increase support systems for our students, increase support systems for the staff, and then shared leadership throughout the district. The goals that we came up with were no reductions of staff to maintain all current staffing levels districtwide. I'm happy to report that we will be able to do that. That is that is not simply a goal. It is something that is built into the budget that the board. Goal two, we wanted to create or add to our interventions. Right? When we're
005talking about multi multi-tered systems of support, we want to add to the number of people who are available to provide support to our students academically. This budget does that. This budget makes a financial commitment to add academic interventionists throughout the district at all levels. Another another uh budget goal building this was behavioral sports and sports. I'm proud to say that this budget does that. There are specific things budgeted in this budget that the board will vote on tonight that will allow us to enhance or bring back things like a DCBA in the district to bring additional mental health supports and social supports to our kids at all levels. Those are in the budget. One of the priorities was eliminating paytoplay fees. It's a financial barrier to student participation. This ensures equitable access for all of
006our students for not only sports but for extracurricular. It supports student engagement, belonging. It builds school culture and aligns with the district commitment to the whole child education and fiscal responsibility. And the reality of it is that the taxpayers are already paying for the districts. The tax dollars for the schools, the tax dollars pay for the sports. This budget will eliminate pay to play or pay to participate. One of the goals that we set out was to increase security by an additional a special law enforcement officer, so retired police officer who works for the police department. We are in currently we are in deep discussions with the city uh on adding a SLO to make ouro total of three which would give us coverage at all of our campuses. If you think of CBS and
007MIS as one campus and the middle school as one campus and the high school and mutual as one campus, we will be fully covered from a security perspective as continue the negotiations with the city as they finalize their budget. But we do believe we have budgeted for that and are prepared to do that. And I do believe that the city is budgeting and is prepared to do that as well. From the time that I came to the district, one of the things that I heard in my superintendent meet and greets, one of the things I've heard from the board, one of the things I've heard from families in communication is we need to be more transparent in the way that we communicate as a district with families. To do that, we're going to build a
008new website. Okay. We're going to implement Parent Square, which is a universal one-stop shop communication platform for all of our families. Our website will be Parent Square. Teachers communications will come through Parent Square. My communications will come through Parent Square. Parents Square will tie directly into the district Facebook page, the district Twitter X, Instagram, and any other social media that the district has. So when we hit send in parent square, it will go to all social media platforms at once. It will unify the way in which you receive communication in this district from the time your child is in kindergarten or preK all the way up through 12. And if you have a child at multiple buildings, you have a child at the mutual, you have a child at McFarland, you have a child at
009the high school, you will no longer have three different types of communication from staff, from teachers, from the school, from administrators. We have one. We will unify the way in which we communicate. This district prioritized that and this district does budget for it. We're going to implement online lesson planning for staff. That's a good thing. Staff, that is moving forward currently. So we are in a position where once the budget if the budget is approved by the board this evening and it is approved by the county we will be ready to launch the online lesson plan format for our staff. You want to implement an online evaluation system. The same holds true there. We are already working on all of the backend necessities so that if the board moves forward tonight and approves the budget,
010we will be in a position as of July 1 to allow teachers and allow administrators access that so that when we get to September, it isn't that new of a system. But again, this budget has that. It's built in. This budget prioritized phase one remodel of Martin's playground. and an HBAC project on the roof of this building on this side. Good news is the HBAC project is through the rod grant which means the state is going to pay 40% of it. So the budget only has to cover 60. We budgeted that. Good news is phase one playground CVS. We've had multiple meetings with the architects. Drivers drawings are done and ready to go or soon I should say if the board approves the budget tonight. Our plan is to do phase one of the Clara
011Barton uh playground project this summer. Our plan is to do phase two next summer. We're looking at a financial investment of upwards of a million dollars at the Clara Barton play. And if you've ever been there, it needs and it deserves it and we're budgeting for it inside of this budget. So, how would we do that? Well, our day-to-day district operations in general fund general fund is roughly $49,52,494. Special revenue fund which is restrict restricted uh federal and state grants for specific programs for example on preschool expansion already did increase there um which is a good thing. Debt service we're going to get to debt service but this is a good thing. That's a rep repayment of of previous previously issued bonds. And good news on debt service will come later. But these are our
012funding. This is how we're funded. 74% of our funding comes from local sources of property taxes. 16% comes from state aid. About 4% come from debt service. About 4% comes from preschool expansion. We get 1% from federal sources. And as a district, we are using less than half of 1% of our fund balance to do anything in this budget. So we are not going to damage our quote unquote rainy day savings funds in the maintenance reserve or in any other of our reserves account in this budget. It's important to look at what we have received from state aid over the course of the last couple of years. So 22 23 which is not ago the district was receiving a little over 10 million close to 10.5 million in state. Fast forward to next year's projection,
013our projection is 8 million697478. So over that five years, while we did get more state aid this year, which is a good thing, we are still net negative 1.778 919 or roughly 16.98% from where we were in 2023. So yes, we received an increase year-over-year, but the fiveyear running state aid is a general loss of 17% from where we think it's important for everybody to know. So what does this mean to the tax levy to the taxpayer? We are going to do these things and we are going to make remain within 2% uh New Jersey levy cap. 78% of the levy that we are proposing is going to come from the township, 19% from the city and 3% from Fieldsboro. As I said the last time and I will say it again, we don't decide
014that. Property value decides that. We have nothing to do with it. We just report it. So there's the numbers that the state says we have to charge the township, we have to charge the city, and we have to charge field. Here's the good news. In March, when I came to the board and when I presented publicly, I talked about the debt service bond refinancing and the anticipated savings. At that time, we anticipated a savings of rough roughly, I think, $70,000 each year, 775 each year. The good news is we have now closed that bond refinance. So we were in that period waiting rates were fluctuating when we locked it was better. So now we know we will be saving roughly 90 to $95,000 a year. We had anticipated saving taxpayers roughly $550,000 over the seven
015years. We now know it's going to be roughly $660,000 over the seven years. And a reminder this is just savings on the debt service portion of the tax. So our debt service is 2,241436. But it's a good thing because debt service is going down because we refinance the debt. Our proposed budget expenditures, we're looking at spending 71% on employee salaries and benefits. We're looking at spending 12% on special education, 9% on facilities, 4% on CNI and building support, 3% on transportation, and 1% on technology and operations. I'm happy to report that the budget that the school district on tonight, if approved, will allow us to move forward and financially do everything that is on this chart, which are all good things for are all good things for our kids, are all good things for our
016community, are all things that we are proud to present to you and hopefully you are proud to vote on tonight. And finally, all of the things that we are proposing and all of the things that we are doing meet all of the needs that were identified by the staff, by the teachers, by the administrators, by the parents. We're maintaining programs. We're adding interventionist. We're building MTSS. We're adding supports. We're expanding counseling. We're building a new website and unifying our communication. We're implementing online platforms for our teachers and administrators to make their lives a little bit easier. We're going to eliminate payto-play fees for sports. We're going to do phase one at the playground at Cl Martin. We will improve communication with families and we will with the city hopefully enhance safety and security by adding
017a stand. So to the board, I anticipate your support. I hope for your support. I ask for your support uh this evening while when you vote on the final budget. Thank you. I'll answer any questions if any of the board members have any questions or if you want to turn it over to the public if they have any questions. I'll answer those. But thank you for your time. >> Thank you very much Dr. Are there any questions? Okay, seeing the board questions, I will again say um Dr. Alello, thank you. Miss Henry, thank you very much. Um I know there's administrators, staff, a lot of people involved in pulling this off and I am very thankful to all of them um for really um putting together a budget that um that um uh we're comfortable
018to vote on later on, >> maybe 2% of technology. Okay. Um, we do have another uh section here for public comments on >> the screen that says yes. >> It's not the button you would think that the hard way. >> Operator >> back down to one. >> Operator. >> Is anyone from the comment to uh or anyone from the public wishing comment? >> Mito. I just have one question. >> Can you try my usually if you hold the button on top it should turn on >> better? Municipal drive. >> Last year the environmental trip was not funded by the budget was funded by some money found by choice from the state had a oneoff situation. I'm assuming that's not happening this year. I didn't see it add back to the budget. So should we assume
019that that trip would not be happening this upcoming year unless some new fancy legendary money comes from the state again. >> So I will uh I will talk to Joe tomorrow to verify this but from my perspective and my understanding is that that trip is happening this year and will continue to happen into the future. Okay. >> So, but again, I don't have the middle school's budget in front of me to say definitively yes. >> Okay. >> But my belief is if it's in if it was budgeted regardless of where the funds came last year or this current year, then the intent would be for it to be budgeted for next year. But again, I don't have the budget in front of me to say definitively that it is budget, but I can certainly look
020look at that for you. Thank you. That was it was a really weird thing where wasn't in the budget and then somebody took out some money. So it was a weird one situation. So >> we'll take a look at it and certainly if you send me an email tomorrow. >> Thank you. >> Okay. >> Thank you. Is there anyone else from the public wishing to comment? >> Okay. Thank you very much. Seeing no further public comment on budget, I will ask the board for a motion to open on agenda item I. It's the consent agenda. >> Thank you, Ma'am. And thank you. >> Any discussion from the board on agenda items one through four? Mr. Jens, >> yes. >> Miss Glass, >> yes. >> Miss man, >> yes. >> Miss McCarti, >> yes. >> Miss
021Johnson, >> yes. >> Miss C, >> yes. >> Mr. Bear, >> yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. >> Question. >> Thank you. >> Next item on the agenda are the committee reports with one report um from Miss Rivera from the special ed committee. We met on Monday May 4th attended with Janice A and myself Dr. was present. We spoke about the last CPAD meeting and how the there was a stand representative there and she was able to give a presentation gave a lot of helpful information to parents and whoever who attended the meeting. We also spoke a little bit about curriculum and post schedule changes were also part of the discussion the special education program. >> Thank you very much Mr. Rivera. Any questions from the board? Okay. And I um I hear we have some
022some news on the previous question. >> Breaking news from the middle school principal. >> It is budgeted. Correct. >> Thank you very much. >> Okay. The next item on our agenda is K the superintendence report with uh three items for a motion. Thank you, Miss Man. Second, >> Mr. J. Thank you very much. Last for discussion K 1 through three. See no discussion. Yes. >> Mr. J. >> Yes. >> M. Yes. On one and two and no on three. >> Miss man. >> Yes. Mard. >> Yes. >> Miss. >> Yes. >> Miss. >> I am a yes on one and two and a3. >> Yes. Mrs. >> Yes. >> Thank you. You were right on both. >> Um, Dr. I know you just presented, but do you have anything else for superintendent report? >> I
023do. I do. >> Okay. >> I'll try to be I'll try to be uh I'll try to be quick. >> Um, good evening everybody again. Uh, it's been a busy few weeks, but certainly eventful. Um, tonight the board will vote on the 2627 budget. Um, and I know that I for all the administrators who worked tirelessly on the building level. I know I speak for the business office and everybody at every department head who worked on this. I think that um that we're we're proud of the budget uh and hopefully it's something that uh it speaks to our collective priorities and our future commitments. On another note, April 30th, myself and principal of the high school, Mrs. and board president were able to attend the Burlington County Academic Awards to see our students be honored.
024Uh it was a it was a wonderful and we are proud of the students accomplishments. We had students in grades 10, 11, and 12 receive individual awards as well as one student receive a scholarship. In add in addition, last week was school administrator recognition week and uh I do want to publicly thank all of our building level administrators and our district level administrators for the work that they do each day here in Bordontown. Uh I'm sure everybody knows that this week is teacher appreciation week. And on behalf of the students and behalf of the community, I want to publicly thank our teachers for their tireless uh dedication to our school community. Last evening, I was able to be part of the senior academic awards here at the high school and I would like to send
025a heartfelt congratulations to all of those award recipients. As we approach the countdown towards the end of the year, I personally want to thank everyone in advance for for their continued support, continued partnership. I certainly look forward to continuing to build collaboratively as we build the future of town district. Thank you for your time and for your support. >> Thank you very much. Any questions from the board regarding what report? Okay, seeing none, we will move on to agenda item out curriculum with four items. >> Motion second last minute. Thank you for the second. Any uh discussions curriculum one month four? >> Uh number three. Is that the first time we've used Cars Lake for um a picnic? >> I think it's a great idea, but I I've never I haven't the first time it's
026been approved. >> Second grade always. >> I've just We have a new principal and she asked and I'm saying yes. >> No, I just I I think that's a great idea because you know I know the space is limited at bar in itself and made a nice playground and facility. So I think it's nice that they're able to do it. >> Any other discussion? >> Mr. Yes, >> thank you. >> We're now on agenda item N personal 17 items open. >> Thank you, Miss >> and a second from Miss. Thank you. questions and discussion on M1 through discussion. Senator, please call the board. >> Mr. J, >> yes. >> Miss, >> yes. >> Miss man, >> yes. >> M. >> Yes. Mr. >> Yes. >> Thank you. Now on agenda item N, business, finance and
027operations with eight items. I'll ask for a motion to open second glad second. Thank you. Uh discussion on N 1 through eight. >> Okay. Same special. >> Mr. James. >> Yes. Yes, Miss >> Yes. >> M. >> Yes. >> Thank you. >> We do not have any policy for review tonight, which puts us on agenda item B, public comments. Um, I did see one signature on there. Um, Miss Parker, I saw you signed up earlier, so um I know you will be the first. say, please approach the uh microphone and um just state your uh which school you went to. >> Hi, I'm Cara Parker and I'm a senior here at the high school. Um I'm here to ask for permission to wear my Girl Scout cord at graduation representing my bronze, silver, and gold
028awards. Um I also ask that the students who have earned the rank of Eagle Scout be permitted to wear their scout regalia as well. Last year, I reached out to my former principal regarding this request and was encouraged that it would be likely considered like favor like favor favorably on a case-by case basis. Um, but however, more recently, I was informed that under the current administration, outside regalia wouldn't be permitted. I understand and respect the importance of maintaining unity and consistency during graduation, but at the same time, I hope you consider this request as a meaningful exception that recognizes years of leadership, service, and dedication to the community. I am currently the only girl scout in my graduating class in Bordontown. And after many years of hard work, I have earned my bronze and silver
029award, and I'm completing my gold award this June. The gold award is the highest honor in Girl Scouts and is earned by only about 5% of participants nationwide. So for me, this isn't just an award. It represents years of my growth, my challenges, leadership, and a deep commitment to serving others. My projects have directly benefited our school district, too. For my silver award, I founded an American sign language club at the middle school um after co creating a space where students could connect and communicate to feel included during a time where many felt isolated. Uh for my gold award, I'm currently working with the high school art club to organize an educational upcycled fashion show, helping students understand the impact of fast fashion on our environment while encouraging creativity and responsibility. Many Eagle Scout projects
030have directly supported our schools, too. Just as an example, a recent Eagle Scout project made by one of our own Bortontown seniors was a ticket booth that is now used during the school sporting events. It is something that continues to serve our community. Like go to work projects, these are lasting contributions that make a real difference. I understand that policies exist for a reason and I totally respect that. But I'm asking you to see this not as an exception that takes away from unity, but as a movement that honors what students can give back to their schools. Wearing this cord for me is not just about standing out. It's about honoring the work, the people, and the community that made it possible. And I hope that this opportunity doesn't end with just me, but that
031future Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts will also be able to have their years of service recognized on one of the most important days of their lives. Thank you, >> Miss Parker. Um, I would like to really thank you. Um, it's always a special moment when any of our students come up uh to speak at a board meeting. Um it we would like to see it more. Um with regard to your specific request because of chain of command and how things work. I can't comment specifically on it other than I I heard you mention some chain of command in there. So you're you're on the right path to um to to voicing your specific concern. But um again, I'd just be remiss if I didn't just say a general thank you for approaching the mic. Thank
032you for your contributions to our community and to our schools. Um I I actually know of someone who's in the ASL involved in ASL. So um that one particularly struck a a nerve of um of appreciation. So thank you very much um for your your time. Um by all means yes. >> Thank you. I can speak directly to chain of command. So, what I would ask, if you don't mind, if you would send what you just wrote to me in an email because I would like to have the document. And what I can assure you is that I will have a conversation with the high school administration tomorrow surrounding this issue. And I can't say what or if the decision will change until after I've had that conversation, but I think the way in which
033you advocated for yourself and for Girl Scouts and was eloquent and well said and certainly heard. So I guarantee you that the chain of command will have a conversation tomorrow about the concern that you raised today if you email me that wonderful speech. >> Thank you. Is there any else uh anyone else from the public wishing to uh address the board? >> Okay, seeing none, I will open the floor for board comment. I just want to echo um Dr. earlier that it's teacher appreciation week and as board and individually like all of our teachers um the schools are not only appreciating the teachers but all the staff as well the nurses the secretaries everybody so um so we hope that you feel the love and that you know you're loved and appreciated and we all
034board members. Okay, I have a few things. Um, just a few housekeeping items. Um, our next meeting is on Wednesday the 20th. U, we will be having another exact session that we have already discussed. So, please put that on your calendar. Um, as well as our board retreat which we have for the 30th. It's a Saturday. Um we do have a start time set for 10 a.m. So, uh we will have some food food provided and there is an agenda that will be coming out for that. So, uh please stay tuned. Um in regard to the retreat, it is actually um checking off board goal one of the topics in board goal number sorry bear with me board goal number one which was to strengthen board governance uh professional capacity and team effectiveness. So we
035set three goals back in December. Um one was around governance which the retreat and the trainings that happen at the retreat will pretty much satisfy all of board goal number one. Um board goal number two is a is a work in process that actually the budget that we have now approved tonight um addresses pieces of that with regard to you know communication um with the community and things like that. Um but the last one I wanted to touch on was board goal number three which is to strengthen the board's committee structure and operational efficiency. Um we did address uh a piece of that board goal um in January when we restructured all the committees and did the full review um and took care of it. But what I wanted to remind us of tonight seeing
036how four months are already gone and we only have eight months to go. It's crazy how fast this year is going by. Um but one of those commitments that we made at that point was to have each committee meet at least two times per year and I know there's several committees that um we haven't had a meeting yet. Um just speaking from experience um the time goes faster as the year goes on, especially when summer gets here and the next thing we know it's it's fall and it's the start of the new school year. So I would just encourage the committee chairs to please start to think about um your committee has not met yet when the when the appropriate time will be to say those two committees so we can make sure we hit
037that goal. Um and then last but not least I will put Miss Pap on the spot and remind our board members unfortunately the public uh the public I don't think is able to attend this event but for us board members um I mentioned a few months ago that Miss Pap had earned her um board NJSBA certified board member certification. It's the second of three certifications that the New Jersey School Boards offers. It is not a light task to undertake. It involves a massive time commitment and New Jersey school boards is actually recognizing her for this accomplishment next Thursday the 14th at 7 a.m. They do >> 7 p.m. Did I say 7 a.m. Sorry, not at 7 a.m. I am so sorry. Um 700 pm. Um it's in Medford, New Jersey schoolboards has the information
038on their website and they also put on a pretty good dinner if you show up at that's at six o'clock I believe for the dinner, right? So it's uh Medford Golf Club or I forget what the actual name is. Yeah. It's Medford Country Club and uh the dinner is pretty good. New Jersey the Burlington County chapter New Jersey school boards does a good job. So I am not able to make it due to family commitments, but I would throw a plug in there to a support Miss Pat, but also b just if you want to get a good dinner, they do a good job there as well. Um, I think that's all I have to say. Yes, we're that's in process. Thank you. Any further comments? >> Okay, I'll ask for a motion to close.
039>> Thank you, Miss Hans. Second >> and Miss Man. All in favor? I >> Okay, we are closed. Thank you, everyone.