001In compliance with the open public meeting act, this is to announce the adequate notice of this meeting was provided in the following manner. Scheduled meetings to be held for January 21, 2026 through January 6, 2027 was conveyed to the birth to county times and the time to train on January 8, 2026. Please stand for a moment of silence and I'll To the flag of the United States of America to the republic for it stands nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Mr. James Miss >> here. Miss >> Here >> you good evening everyone and thank you all for being here tonight. Um we have a pretty straightforward agenda tonight with um we get a chance to see some board work on our committees which is part of our board goals of 2026. So that
002should be some interesting discussion when that time comes. Um our first item on the agenda is our student representatives report. Thank you. >> Good evening. My name is Tery and I'm serving as this year's student council vice president. I'd like to share a brief update on what's been happening around Btown Regional High School. Earlier this month, student council hosted the Mr. Bourtown event with 14 senior contestants, our largest number in most recent years. Congratulations to Joshua Moore, our Mr. Bour time winner, and Ryan McIntyre, winner of Mr. Bites. Our FA students also attended the Southern Region Template where they participated in leadership workshops. Many clubs have been actively fundraising, including the senior, the junior, sophomore, and freshman classes, as well as art club and key club showing strong school. We would like to recognize Kaylee
003Monaso as Elk senior of the month for December, Cameron to as January safe driver of the month, and congratulation Maddie Luol on reaching 100 wins in wrestling. Our International Thespian Society has had several achievements including Bin Boyer receiving a New Jersey thespians art advocacy advocacy scholarship. Joshua Moore earning a superior word award in playwriting and Riley Evans receiving a superior award in social acting. Looking ahead, students have final exams next week and will begin semester 2 on January 30th. Upcoming events include student council volleyball tournament on February 12th, the senior Florida trip meeting on February 24th and battle of classes on February 27th. Thank you. And that concludes my report. >> Thank you, Miss Sandy. Um, next item on our agenda is the public forum. Uh, this would be the public forum for agenda item
004only. Okay. Anyone from the public that did not sign a wish to speak on an agenda item? Seeing none, we will move on to recognition. Agenda item G with two items. Dr. Alabella, I'll hand you the floor for number one and actually turn the floor number two as well. >> Okay. Uh So we have um you know two items. The first one is uh for those of you who don't know January is board of education recognition month. So a couple of things obviously we have the graphic here but every board member you will notice a uh a black file. Uh in that file there's two things. There's obviously a recognition and then there's actually um there's actually a a proclamation for every everybody. In addition to that, there's a small envelope that's a gift from
005me. And just to kind of take a moment, I just want to take the opportunity to thank everyone um and you know that serves on the board. Um your commitment to our students, staff in the district is does not go unrecognized by me. Everybody knows the hours are long, right? The decisions are difficult at times, but the issues are are always important. your willingness to serve and be leaders in this community. It is seen and it is appreciated and on behalf of the district, we thank you. So, um, at times it's a thankless job, but this month is yours and I wanted to take a moment to notice and and give you appreciation on behalf of all the staff, students, and the school community. So, thank you for your time and your willingness to be
006part of what we're doing. And then the second um recognition uh is we are going to have a pre presentation by uh Mr. David McN who's here who is our auditor that's going to go over the uh annual comprehension financial report. So, I will turn the floor over to Mr. Everyone hear me? Okay. >> All right. Um I'm Dave McN partner with HMA uh here to give a quick presentation um overview of the audit for 2025. We were on site for about three weeks in the fall. Um there's normally a team of two to three of us and then we uh there's a lot of back and forth with the business office after that to clean up. So, it's a long process. Um, so I do thank and her team for their patience and all
007their help in getting to this point. The audits were due this year January 15th. We were able to file by December 1st. We're well ahead of that deadline, which is great. Um, for those that are used to this, I'll go through the normal key areas. When we do the audit, we come our goal is to issue three reports. Uh, these three reports starting with the independent audits report. This is our opinion on the financial statements. Our opinion basically says that we um how we came up with our audit in accordance with government auding standards generally accepted uh accounting standards in the United States of America as well as standard set forth by the New Jersey State Department of Education. We issued what's called an unmodified opinion for 2025 and that's the best opinion you can
008receive basically saying that we feel your financial statements are fairly stated in all material respects as of June 30 2025. So great report. We also do a report on internal controls. So when we do the audit, we also look at controls in the district, various compliance areas for the district. This is a clean report. So there's no findings. If there were, there'd be mention of findings in this report and then you would have corrective action, but that's not required, which is great. And then finally, we issue a third report, which is a report on major programs. So we do a financial statement audit, which looks at all of your financial statements, but we also do what's called a single audit because the district spends over $750,000 in federal and So it's like a whole separate
009audit to look at compliance over the spending of those grants. This year we on the federal side we looked at your special education cluster which is the IDA funds and on the state side we looked at the general state aid and extraordinary special education. We also in this we issued an unmodified opinion on those as well. Again best opinion you can receive basically says we feel the district complied with the requirements of all material respects as of June 325. So three reports and that's kind of what you're looking for which is great. Um I just like to mention there is a on the handout that you all have I gave page numbers so you can cross reference this to the large report if you want to go back to that but I'm not going to
010go through that large report tonight. There's an MDNA in the in the acter that's on pages 14 through 20. That'd be a good area for you to look through on your own if you wanted to just pick a small section of the report to just kind of it gives you a summarized view of the financial statements and some of the key accounting policies. On that second page, um I just always like to go through the surplus for the district. Um this is the main operating fund of the general fund and how it did for the year 2025. I also gave you a comparison to 2024. At the top it shows how the budget uh performed in you know actual to budgeted. At the top you'll see there was excess revenue that came in over budget
011for $272,000. There was unexpended appropriations. So of the budget about $3.9 million was not spent. Um that generated fund balance for the district of a little over 4.1 million but the district used or budgeted uh 4.6 6 million as well as had some prior year um purchase orders over 1.3 and then a used capital reserve of $357,000. So the overall net effect this year was a decrease in balance of 2,188 384 from the year before. In the middle of the page I show you how the budget of what was spent and the percentage of budget. You see we spent 92 and a half% of the budget which is actually down from the year before which was 95.3. Um, so that helped generate some of that fund balance back, which is great. And then on the
012bottom third of the page, I show where your fund balance stands. So sometimes, you know, you look and see you have $7.5 million in fund balance. It sounds like you have a lot of money, but not all that's available to you. That's in various legal reserves. Some of it's already spent. So like I mentioned to start the year, we had 9.7 9,776 in fund balance. That's down. That's 2.1 million to a total 7,587. Of that 7,587. There's 483,193 of reserve for incumbrances. So those are purchase orders that were already obligated. Uh the next number there is 832870. That's excess surplus from the year before and that was actually being used in the budget year you're in now. Uh the next number is capital reserve 2,974 253. Those are funds set aside for future capital purchases.
013The district has a maintenance reserve of a million578511. Those are funds reserved for maintenance needs. There's a small unemployment reserve $4,800. The next number 499606. That's fund balance that was used in the year you're in 2526. And then you um that leaves you with unreserved fund balance of 1,214 512. So of the 7,587 only the 1 1 million24 is your actual fun balance at the end of the year. That's free and available going forward. Hopefully that explains that well for you. Um again, that's really all I have. I I like to just keep it brief. If ever there are specific questions for me as you go through the report how to get a hold of me, I'm happy to answer anything that might come up. But does anybody have anything tonight? questions from members of
014the board. >> Okay, thank you very much. Appreciate all your help and preparing the report. >> Yeah, absolutely. Again, if anybody ever has anything or any questions, please respond in touch with me. Thanks for having me tonight. Appreciate it. >> Thank you very much. Okay, seeing no unfinished business, we will move on to consent agenda item I there are 14 motions. I'll ask for a motion for discussion. >> Any discussion on I4? >> Yes. >> M. >> Yes. Miss. >> Yes. M. Yes. >> Yes. >> Motion pass. >> Thank you. >> Um next we'll move on to the agenda item J. >> I'd like to make a motion to move this to the end. >> Okay. We have a motion to table J until the end of the meeting. So it would go just before
015the second public from this class. Thank you. Any discussion about moving item J to the end of the meeting discussion? >> Yes. >> Miss. >> Yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. Yes. >> Yes. >> Thank you. >> Okay, that should bring us to the superintendent report. >> Dr. Bell, floor is yours again, sir. >> Okay, thank you. Um, uh, procedurally, there's two issues or two items. You have one, uh, a motion to accept the banual HIV report, uh, which is all of the, uh, SSDS HIV issues that have taken place from July 25th uh 2025 through December. That's a statuto requirement. We do that every uh we do that two times per year. And then second is that you see is the monthly HIP report which is there. So if you have any questions, be happy
016to answer those. If not, I'll move on to my report. So bear with me. It's my first one. This may be a little bit lengthy. 25 30 minutes and we'll be out. >> I'm just kidding. Um, so it's been a busy 13 days here, but it's been a great experience for me personally. I've had the opportunity to visit all of the district departments, meet with the staff at each of the schools, and I've been able to engage meaningfully with both uh the BREA and the BRAA. Um, I've spent time uh today uh presenting material both short and long term uh with respect to goals and plans not only to our building leaders but to uh entire into our our entire uh department of student services. More importantly, I've been able to attend a number of
017great events such as the eighth grade open house and program of studies night which was fantastic uh here at BRHS and I recently was able to attend the play the enchanted bookshop at the middle school. Um what I'm report to the board is that the district that I see and I've worked alongside these past two weeks is a positive district, a motivated district, and one that is focused certainly on the future of our students. As superintendent, I am certainly excited by the opportunities that lie ahead, and I look forward to sharing the work that we will do with the community. So stay tuned. A focus of mine is to establish a more transparent and open communication process, not only for the board, but for the community. As such, if you have not done so, I
018encourage anybody uh who's out there to follow district on Facebook and find me on X, formerly known as Twitter. In addition, uh I've worked with the technology department on a new superintendent's corner section of the web page to provide another avenue for the community to connect and get real real time information and updates on all the good things that are going on in the district. With that being said, there are two dates coming in the next week that I would like to bring everyone's attention to. The first one is a shameless plug. On January 28th, I will hold my first of three meet and greets here at uh the high school starting at 6:30. Second, and what I consider to be more importantly, our first CPEG, special education parent advisory group meeting will take place
019on Janu January 29th here at the high school at 6 PM. I hope to see you there. On the agenda tonight, you may notice a series of motions that are related to um improvement projects at the various schools. Um, I want to make a statement so that everybody has clarity. These motions do not indicate that the Btown Regional School District is in fact approving a referendum, intending to approve a referendum at this time. Those motions are on the agenda because in New Jersey, the Department of Education has a series of regulatory and procedural steps that all districts must go through in order to even consider a ref. These motions that you see and these motions that we are asking you to approve tonight are simply those required steps. If the board of education approves these
020motions tonight, it simply allows us the district to do factf finding to do information gathering with the respect to a potential referendum in the future. Without these motions and without this approval tonight, the Department of Education will not allow us to factfind. You as the board and the community have my commitment that if a decision is made to move forward with any type of project that is referendum related, we will provide you with full transparency and we will give every taxpayer and community member the opportunity to see the facts, hear the relevant details and ask any questions that may arise. I think it is important for us to know that coming into tonight that what we are asking you to approve and for the public if you are concerned about those motions there is no
021action to approve a reform. It is simply asking the board to give us permission to do fact so that we can if we wanted to come to the board and make a recommendation that is not what tonight is about. Um, additionally, recently I've shared a memo with the community that outlines our procedures which are directly aligned for things having to do with immigrations and customs on school premises or on school property. Some of you may have realized or may be aware that there was an issue in a neighboring community raised the alarm of the community rightly so. Um, I received a number of emails both from concerned citizens as well as a student. Uh, and that is the genesis of the memo that you received. The memo that I drafted and that I put out
022aligns directly with the guidelines that the Department of Education put out on state and federal requirements pertaining to immigration students and families. There are some highlights that I want to say publicly for those who may not have seen it. um physical access to school premises. It is important to note that if an immigration enforcement agent seeks to access any school or district prop property, school districts employees must notify me as the chief school administrator. No independent decision can be made at the school level. That is not my rule. That is what the guidance says from the Department of Education. Staff have been instructed to respectfully request any document that the agents uh as as well as the agent's credentials, the purpose of the visit, and any legal documentation authorizing their access. Absent exit circumstances, I
023will then determine whether or not access will be granted. And that will be determined based on whether or not the individual who is at the school has a valid judicial search warrant or a valid judicial arrest warrant, which are both signed by a judge. Absolutely. But if they do have those documents, the law says we have to admit them to our premises. I mean, these are very complex issues. I got to take a look at I don't want to speak. I have to take a look. Okay, this is what the Department of Education's guidelines are for schools. >> I understand there's always guidance. Lots of people put out guidance, right? Federal guidance, there's state guidance, there's guidance only. >> If an agent asserts the exe the existence of an exemption circumstance and demands immediate access,
024staff should comply with the request. Access to student records. Schools should not provide student records, attendance information, or student access without first consulting with me and the attorney as appropriate. No student should be removed from school premises or question without probable legal authority and administrative review. These procedures are in place to protect students, to ensure compliance with the law, and to provide clarity in the event that such situations arise. I do not anticipate us having to implement any of these procedures based on my ongoing research as well as my interaction with both local state and federal authorities. I felt it necessary to provide the community with that information. If a community member is interested in more detailed outline as well as the legal frameworks that were that these guidances were built on, they are available
025on the New Jersey Department of Education website. I would be happy to answer any questions that any member of the public has with respect to those guidelines. Feel free to reach out to me. Feel free to set up an appointment. Feel free to come to the district. The DOE put those guidelines out not recently. Those guidelines have been out for over a year. And all the accompanying both federal and state regulations and settled court cases that have established those guidelines are available on the website. Whether they be Supreme Court decisions, whether they be decisions whether they be local decisions. So the the precedent necessary for the DOE to issue those guidelines to schools is available is available on the DOE website. The website is linked to in the memo for anybody to read. So these
026instructions, these guidelines are not Dr. on a whim making a determination about what I think this district should be doing. These are Department of Education guidelines sent to every school district in the state of New Jersey based on the legal frameworks necessary to provide oversight of a complex legal issue that at times could pit federal issues with state issues. These are the current guidelines as they stand. We are required to implement And we are required to follow the guidelines as they stand and that is what we will do. circumstances. It's very rare. That would be like if a felon had access. No one is coming in here to remove students from our schools. Correct. That should be the student representative uh was stole by thunder by mentioning that the town regional high school international thespian
027society troop 683 had a number of students who receive recognition. So thank you for bringing that to light. Um, finally, it's that time of year when we are on weather watch. Right. As of now, there is a distinct chance of a winter storm coming over the weekend, which could continue into Monday. We, as a district, are actively monitoring that situation in real time, and we will keep the community informed of any weather related decision that may be necessary. So stay tuned. That is my report, and I thank you for the opportunity to speak. Is there any questions from the board regarding the report? >> Um, I should have probably asked the during the first part, but I noticed between the packet we got Friday and tonight's packet, um, there was a new hip. Um, and
028I don't recall getting the documentation for it. So, is at some point we need to make sure that that comes out. >> Yes, it came through today and uh, and we'll get the documentation for that. Absolutely. >> Thank you, Any other questions from the board? Okay, seeing no questions. Um, we do have one motion. So, I'll ask for a motion for superm. I think we already had discussion. Um, so seeing further discussion, Miss Henry, please hold the board. >> Mr. J. Yes. >> Yes. M. >> Yes. >> Thank you. >> Now move on to what is now agenda item K. It was previously held for curriculum report one and two. I'll ask for a motion discussion. >> Miss. Thank you. discussion or questions on uh curriculum one and two. >> Number one, do we have
029a class? This is for her to teach the class and to get her credit. So, do we have a class already established for her to teach? >> Yes. So, so what >> I know we were working on that's why I'm asking. >> Yeah. So, if we if we didn't have somebody who was able to teach it and then was accepted by the school to do it, we would have had to tell an entire class of students that we would not have been able to offer that. So, um we're happy that Mrs. Glenn is able to do it, is willing to do it, and has been accepted to do it because this gives us the opportunity to offer that to our students and uh Mrs. Glenn and I have had detailed conversations about how that will
030operate for her. But, um we're excited to have her do it for the students and we want to make sure that the students have the opportunity and we're lucky that Mrs. Glenn was here to pick up those pieces. Thank you. >> Did I say the comment for >> now would be the time. It's it's in regard to the thing regard to um both you. But I just want to say of course like she does so much already. So when we see two more jobs, I don't know how you do it all, but I'm so glad and I know the kids are going to be so lucky to have you teaching that class. I'm super excited that they have the opportunity to take um college credits and I feel like that's so cool that they can
031do that while they're in school. Get involved. >> Mr. J. >> Yes. >> M. Miss >> thank you. >> Uh we are now on agenda item L personnel with 1 through 15. Any discussion on personnel 1 through 15? I just want to say I'm sure the kids are going to miss Ellen Kirk, but I know they really enjoyed her. She did a great job with our music program. So, just to thank her for her service. >> Thank you. Other questions, discussion comment, please hold. >> Mr. Jones, >> yes. >> Miss, >> yes. >> Miss, >> yes. >> Miss McCarti, >> yes. >> Miss, >> yes. >> Miss, >> yes. >> M. >> Yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. >> Thank you. >> We're on uh business, finance, and operations. Now, agenda item N with uh nine
032items. However, um it was brought to our attention just before the meeting that agenda item eight um actually needs to be table until there's further um clarification. So, I will ask for a motion to table agenda item eight. >> Thank you, Miss Lat. >> Second. >> And thank you for the second, Miss Man. Um is there any discussion? or questions on table. >> Seeing no questions for the table. >> Mr. James, >> yes. >> Miss, >> yes. >> Thank you. And I will now ask for a motion to open discussion on agenda items 1 through seven and agenda item nine under business and finance. >> Thank you. >> Second man, thank you. Questions or discussion on business finance and operations 1 through 7 and nine? Seeing no questions or discussion. >> Mr. D. >> Yes.
033>> Miss Black. >> Yes. >> Miss. >> Yes. Miss. >> I am abstain on number six. And yes. session. >> Yes. >> Motion pass. >> Thank you. >> Uh that brings us to um policy which we don't have any policies under review for right now. Um so we will move on to O which is the committee section. There are no committee reports but um that opens this up to discussions about committees. So, um, for the public, when the board set goals, um, coming into the 2026 calendar year, um, one of the goals, it's actually board goal three, um, that the board set for itself was to review and make any necessary adjustments to our committee structure. Um, what we have seen throughout the years is that some of the committees um, that are ad hoc
034committees um, haven't had any be active. The nature of an ad hoc committee is it has stood up for a period of time. Um, and thence whatever business it was it was created for is complete. It then um should be dissolved. Um so we just need a little bit of clean up there on some of our ad hoc committees as well as some of our standing committees just over time and as things have changed um also required some review. So at our last meeting um during the board comment section um the board discussed uh the committee appointments and then made the determination that before appointing committees to only then reorganize them. It was more efficient for us to review the committees now and then we'll make the appointments once we have our new committee structure
035which is um the discussion we're going to engage in um uh right now. So um all the All the opinions of the board were just collected um coalated and then presented to the board tonight um as information. At this point, I'll open the floor um to any of the board members who wish to start speaking on the information um that you've all received about um everyone's um independent thoughts and then once we get some organic conversation going um I'll fill in the details that they need to fill in before we um ultimately decide if we're ready to motion. So the floor is open to what would like to all the changes are good. I think what we discussed last meeting is pretty much here. Um I think moving athletics just to sense. Um the only
036thing that I had suggested after I actually was not necessarily deleting climate culture al together or see if we can work into something else just because we are in this transition and just things arise I feel like it would be nice to have spring people to discuss things um I don't know because I think if we make it just like a conversation with Dr. Alello it also might get lost in whose job is it and so I didn't know what we about that if there was one that it more naturally goes into. I think the communication and community engagement committee is where it would naturally fit. Um but because I like that committee, we should make that comm. >> So I also think one of our I think within every committee no matter what is
037building grounds, legislative, fiscal, should have some balance of climate and we should be considering that when we are in our committees be it policy you said finance or whatever. Um so there should be some say subcommittee but a subcategory when making these decisions asking certain questions are we needing that whole student when we are making decisions in any of the committees getting rid of it? No. because there's going to be times when certain specific things come up like when we get our test scores when we get certain things that we need some demographic study done or analysis done we may need it for that purpose but I think we should keep it in mind in every committee that we do in general >> we should keep it like make it from to yes >> so
038I want to speak to this because um this is one I'm very passionate about and I pushed very hard when we started for it. Um when I came on board that that committee wasn't really meeting at all and I kind of obnoxiously pushed until it did meet because um I feel it's important and one of the things that came out of it that we've only done once and you know I could kick myself for not being more forceful on it but I you know we can only do so much. Um what we did in that committee was review discipline records to see if there were trends with certain um minority groups being disciplined different than others. Um if there were um attendance issues that were were prevalent in one class of students versus another. And
039there was meaningful data to be found there. And if we don't have this committee and we don't force it to meet and do these things, then we're going to lose that. And I think it's important um we've seen don't I'm mistaken here. When we look at our test scores, there are definitely disparages between certain ethnic groups of our students and that also plays into climate and culture and I think we're doing them all a disservice if we don't get that community coming in not just on the board but active and engaged again. So, I really would like to see it stay and be a permanent run managed committee. >> I agree with all of that. I felt the consensus was that people wanted to go away with it so I was trying to work it
040back in but I'm good with keeping it and I want to be on it. Okay. Um I also think that we need to make the ad special that should be really of sensing a pause. So um on the one sheet that was sent out that is the sample sort of working document for us to form the motion. What I just heard in that discussion, but please jump in if anybody feels or are differently was that from page two where we have a bunch of optional additions. What I'm hearing from the group is the one two third one down where I I'm sorry about the typo and not having the team on the Miss Patty pointed that out to me. My answer to proof before I sent it out. I missed it. Sorry. But um the
041climate and culture committee is hereby established as a standing committee. That's what I'm hearing in the discussion. We'd like to establish that as a standing committee. So that would move into the motion. Before I move on, I'll just give anybody a chance to >> adjust to that. >> Okay. So we would move that one into the into the motion and then that obviously the one just below it where we would say it's dissolved becomes irrelevant. So we will cross that out. And then but I also heard say was the ad hoc um strategic not I'm sorry the ad hoc special ed oversight committee which is the last one in the list is something that's of interest I share that interest with you miss but um for right now because it's already come up I'll ask
042for um discussion about the ad hoc special committee um support for it objection to it whichever um I think Mr. Mr. He did a good job of advising us legally as it being out of hawk um at the last meeting. So I don't know if there's anything that needs to be added but if there is also just to keep us keep us in our lane ahead. >> Absolutely. Um just a quick word on that and I gave the same word at the last meeting. You know that those are the exact words that I would use. Keep everyone in their lane. Um, this is to examine, you know, district-wide budgetary issues involving special ed, pro district programmatic issues involved in special ed, trends that are overarching. Just, you know, rest assured that board members are not
043going to have access to student records of special education students. Um, unless the rare case where there's some reason why it will come before the board, you know, IEP decisions are made by IEP teams in accordance with the Individuals Disabilities and Education Act. Um, but any school district can always improve their practices and be better. Um, we can always improve, you know, certain facets of our policies and be better. You know, having an ad hoc committee will help us zero in on and focus in on a the things that have caused special education costs to explode in the last, you know, several years and b um, you know, any issues that can be addressed by way of, you know, policy revision, what have you. Um, and it'll be a good way for the board to
044keep its finger on the pulse, you know. from the upper level of uh what's going on, you know, well, operationally, obviously the certified staff and child study team members, case managers are going to be handling um the day-to-day special services as they always do. So, >> one other thing I might add too, occasionally we might have some special ed settlements, um you know, things that come before the board. So, you know, I'll keep those brief when they arise, as they arise. Um but, you know, we put our fingers on the pulse of a little bit more directly on the board level. Just, you know, expect here and there things may come up. >> I was just going to say, but I know that she also is hugely >> speak. Any further comments from the board?
045One more comment too. This would be a great time for me to add that I don't want to add later on in response to something. Um, you know, it's a good time to reflect on the policym function of board members. If you ever, you know, become privy to, you know, certain information, you just keep in mind, always got to respect that line and never advocate for anything for or against with regard to a special education student. You may have people come in the community come up to you because you're on that committee and think that you have a more direct involvement. Just always remember chain of command referred to the superintendent and the director of special services. >> Yes. And I would even add this was in the um notes that were sent around but
046part of the motion that we're going to put together um is going to refer this out to the policy committee which I'm I'm sure is existing. Um if anybody has any thoughts about policy committee there would be strong argument against that but I don't think that exists. Um, the last step of this after we create this motion and ultimately vote on if approved is to refer this to the policy committee, our policy 9130, I believe it is. Yes, policy 9130 um is the bylaw and policy that outlines all these and um as Mr. Morgan said, you know, words like oversight would be requested within the description which would ultimately come out of the policy. So, thank you. I'll say last chance to chime in on special ed and then we'll move on. >> Okay. So,
047special ed. Sorry. >> I was going to say is based on that discuss >> I mean we we can sure >> I mean I just think that >> right and that would be on the optional um deception one. >> Yeah. So, we would be accepting the very last one. Um, and I will read all of this so the public has a chance to hear it all um once we get done doing this work. But, um, we are saying the add and ad hoc special education committee that's getting moved into the motion as well as um the base representative position is hereby that is being added in. Any discussion or objection to the addition of pulling in the base representative position? pulling that res pulling that >> is there any >> sorry it's a little >>
048I I just want to confirm um make sure I understand this is position but there's not been someone actively engaging with the district in a long time despite efforts to try um if someone was actively involved with it I would say out of respect for them we should talk to them before we wipe that relationship ship away. But if there isn't a standing relationship any longer, that doesn't make sense. >> There hasn't been. And I think um the CPA that's been created is really it's I think at the time this was created to sort of be in way a C type, but CE's the right way to do it. And I actually from that from the community side, I actually um have spoken to um of course her name escapes me because I want a
049microphone in front of people, but um the the person who used to run Yes, Barbara. Um, I have spoken to her a couple times and and she's, you know, obviously still in the special community, but her children have moved on or out of district as well. So, >> and I believe that uh the director of student services has reached out to invite them to be part of >> right at the table. >> And I and I'm sure she would if she was asked, she would certainly jump in and help. But I don't I don't anticipate there would be any ill will by eliminating this representative position. Okay. So, we will move that one in. Okay. We're making good ground here. So, I also heard somewhere um I think it was younastic about um moving athletics
050and merging it into um curriculum and student activities. So, it would be curriculum and student activity. Curriculum, athletics, and student activities. I think athletics is going to not even be titled, right? It's just going to be student activities. curriculum and student activities because athletics is student activities. >> It's open for discussion >> because why then why don't we put athletics theater? >> Okay, that's a fair statement. >> Why would we only name athletics specifically? The reason why I would say having athletics in there is that it would be defined that you would maybe be the athletic director a part of any discussion that might need to happen if we have a meeting related basically for athletics instead of it might not be curriculum. It may not be theater or other activity but we might need
051it for an athletic situation. >> Would we typically invite Because but that's what I mean because even the other activities I don't know you never know things come up >> I feel like naming just naming one >> just a suggestion you may want to go with curriculum and co-curricular activities which would cover everything >> including athletics >> and all other athletic extracurricular activities. >> So just curriculum and co-curricular activities >> and again >> that could be defined in the actual definition of the of the policy or I'm sorry of the committee. >> Okay. So it's um that that part of the motion will be the athletics committee and the curriculum committee are merged into a single committee known as the curriculum and curricular. >> Yes. >> Okay. That's not everything we needed to discuss, but
052I think that's everything that's organically upset. >> Yeah. I have another question. >> I'm just being patient. >> The floor is yours back. >> Um, so there's two. One I think is pretty easy. Um, I know I was I don't know if I'm the only advocate, but I know I put it out there. I think it's important that we add um a communication committee. Like I know um one of the things we've been hearing consistently feedback is that there we need to be more transparent, more open. Um and I think one of our board goals was to create a newsletter. And I think if we don't have a committee where that responsibility is assigned, it's going to be real easy to forget this month who's going to put what together. Um, and I think now
053that we have active posting on our Facebook page, which is fantastic, um, I think this committee would, you know, be not active on Facebook because I think there's a lot of danger with boards and what you post on social media, but could be watching and keeping an eye on all those things and keeping it as part of our communication, too. So, I I do think a standing committee, communications committee is important. Especially with the newsletter, trying to get that done. You know, these things, even though they don't sound like big things are such a huge deal, it still takes time. And if there's not, >> if there's not someone in charge of keeping it together and then it's got to get submitted to the board as a whole because that committee can't universally by themselves
054put out a newsletter without the whole board having it. So that there needs to be a committee report where the newsletter is reviewed. And if we don't have that structure, I just think we're going to lose it and then we're going to fail our goal before we even start. Any discussion on the other side of that? >> Okay. So on the optional other optional resolutions page that would be um the first part where it says a standing communications committee is hereby established to oversee the development coordination etc. Read it and I will read it into the record once we review all our decisions. So that one is being um included. >> Thank you. >> The other one um that I think is I'm hoping is more for discussion that's more active um is the strategic
055planning committee. Um as someone who has not recently because there's been a lot of change. Um when when Trudy was here and was running the strategic plan, I know we I was actively online. She would be updating the links of where we are with getting different things accomplished. I don't know if where we are today, if we're still working towards that or if we are at a point where maybe we need to restart the process. But whenever I go look at our strategic plan and see the things that I know as a part of the committee, one of the committees and doing the work, it was very passionate items to the community that participated that these these things need to start happening. And with the change in superintendent and and all the crazy that has
056been the budget, I think that kind of fell behind. And so I don't know that we have at least I don't feel like I have a comfortable grip on the whether we are moving on a strategic plan or if we need to restart maybe that plan is now we're so far past what all the deadlines were that we had set for ourel it makes sense to start a new one. Um, but I think you have to have that committee and that committee has to really start doing the work because I think it bothers me that we have that plan on our district website and I don't there's not a good way to follow up on what is being done, who's assigned to what is it happening. Um, and I think whoever's chairing that department and
057that committee needs that, you know, be hard pushing to make sure that we if not with our current one because I think we're like halfway through it maybe. Yeah. Um maybe it that's not our vision anymore. I don't know. But whatever it is, I just think we need to get on it. >> Can we ask you Dr. Do you >> what are your thoughts on the current because obviously you were not here when it was developed. So, so I think that one of the things from my perspective is is where town was when that five years strategic plan was dutifully worked upon and built is very different than where border town currently is. survive position that yes, I am in complete agreement that having a strategic planning committee is important and starting a strategic planning
058process is something that we certainly should look to do very quickly and I think to honor the work that has been done previously. That first meeting should be to invite obviously all of the members who were on that committee to come and then look at what is in the strategic plan that has not been accomplished to Is that a viable pathway for us to start building from? So that we're not simply saying all of that work doesn't have a place even though the district has made such dramatic change over these years. It's let's look at the work that was done and take what we can and apply it for a new five-year plan as we move forward with the change that has happened over the last two or three years here. That would be my
059suggestion of how I would move forward and I certainly would suggest that the board does look to have a strategic planning committee because it would be something that I would be bringing to you in the very near future to start whether you've had a committee or not so that we can actually develop short and long-term goals based on what the community's plans are for the committee itself. for the strategic plan was not correct me if I'm wrong. It was more of a community with board members and administration and you know teachers all being part of the committee really not something specific from the board that said we are the strategic planning committee. >> No, >> it was everybody. So it really wasn't one of our committees per se. We weren't running a committee. >> So
060there was both things. There was the board has has a strategic planning committee which is three committee three members of the board just like every other committee. Um it was their responsibility to during the strategic planning process to be along with the superintendent the people who drove the strategic planning process drove getting it done. Right? That committee was the ones doing the work of driving that process. And then what that became after the strategic plan was done, that committee was responsible for the the maintenance of that strategic plan, right? Working with the superintendent um to ensure that those goals were being hit. Um so that that's what the role of the committee is. The whole it was it was about 70 you and I were on it. That's where one of the places we first
061met. >> 64 people. I remember. >> Yes. the 60 or 70 people that was those were everyone who's listed in the strategic plan documented that they were there doing it that was the strategic planning team. So there there are two separate things. There's a team that puts the strategic plan together. This is the committee that oversees carrying out that process and obviously leverage superintendent as well as oversees the maintenance of of any business. >> No, the the people who set up the last strategic plan, none of them were on the board anymore. >> But yeah, it's true. Like I agree with what Dr. said we are in a totally different So I think just revisiting it seeing what should stay. >> Okay. So what that would do is the fifth one um where if we
062were going to dissolve it that will not be part of our motion. So we are going to um retain the strategic planning committee as I think just by nature strategic planning needs to be an adop committee. It's not permanent perpetually. >> So >> yes >> only because you all said none of you were all on the strategic planning committee the last strategic plan was done. Just be aware NJSBA they are fantastic at helping districts develop and helping district. >> Yeah, they were we were part of the the whole >> like the group a bunch of us were >> I'm sure that was the case last time. I just want to plug that for anybody. >> They were great. We did everything. >> Thank you. >> Okay. So, I'm adding strategic planning as an ad hoc
063to the um the part where it says no changes. Okay. Um what haven't we touched on? Do we need to >> The only thing we haven't touched on is changing from a legislative committee to a legislative leaison. Okay. >> Um as as a committee. I I don't I don't know that a committee is is the best option. I think having a a liaison like a uh a legislative delegate and a sub or a backup, there's a real name for it, not subs like a ranking. >> Right now, right now I'm the main and is working with me and um I know the um it's coming up the next the next one. So um I don't know that matters if you call it a committee or a leazison but it it doesn't act as a normal
064committee. It doesn't meet as a normal committee review. So there aren't going to be like minutes. So I think having that change from a leison as opposed to committee is what we do a little better. >> I agree. And what's interesting on this one is I I think in policy it's called a committee, but on the actual sheet that's listed on the website, it actually is called out as a delegate. So I think really >> the delegate's the right position with a with a fallback. I agree. Um and I think that is captured under the fourth bullet point in the part of sample resolution. Um it's a position >> sort of aligning our policy to what our appointments have always been. Um any discussion or um >> do you just want to put legislative delegate?
065>> Sure. We can add and alternate with or with alternate. >> Yes. >> Okay. Um something we haven't touched on in the conversation yet. Um or I'm sorry, Miss P. We haven't touched on in policy. Um there was a personnel committee. It's not a committee that's been active in my experience in tenure with the board. I think I saw you shake your head. I think it's you're not familiar with it either. >> Um the board before you, they added. >> Okay. >> But all >> um the consensus I think >> that I saw was was right to dissolve it, but I'll just open for conversation on potentially dissolving the personnel committee. >> Yeah, just to support that decision, um the research that I did has has was pretty clear that u most districts have moved
066away from having that because there was a a problem with um roles. The board is not responsible for personnel. And so it's it's very easy for lines to get blurred with like what the intention of that committee is versus what they're actually doing. Um so from the research I did that committee doesn't exist in many places any longer. um just because there's you know that conflict of what the B board's responsibility is and what the superintendent's responsibility is >> and I would just you know just to echo that and to and obviously I think to give perspective but if there are issues that are relevant to your role as a member of the board of education that are personnel issues that we encounter that I believe need to be brought to you then we will
067bring them to you because it fits your role it keeps you clean being in a situation where you could either walk into an ethical dilemma or create a situation. It's better for council and I to come to you with an issue that is personal related because we know that what we're bringing to you is going to be within the guise of what your goal is rather than you have a committee and ask a question or bring something up that puts you in a precarious ethical or legal position without even realizing it. So rest assured, we will always come to you when there is an issue that was supposed to that fit your >> or have the staff in the community has wrongfully assumed that you're violating the open public meetings act and discussing people without
068righting them in the context of committee. So it's a that's a great point number. All right. Sorry. Just bear with me. I'm making sure we dot every I cross every T here so we're thorough. Um >> sorry I'm very familiar with there's a lot of time in these documents. Um all right so buildings and grounds I don't I don't I didn't see any reason for discussion but I will just for sake of being thorough give the opportunity to speak about building and grounds. Okay same ditto on finance. Okay negotiations. So the one one of our other board goals is the committees need to be active and working. So there's the requirement to meet. Um I did do a little bit of research and just noting an exemption um from any requirements to meet on negotiations
069for obvious reasons if we're not actively negotiating a contract. We shouldn't meet just to meet. However, it is best practice everywhere that a standing negotiations committee exists. So we will have that note that negotiations is exempt from the requirements meeting. Okay. Um, I think there's probably no discussion about policy, but again, just making sure we're thorough. >> Are we putting in here the requirement to meet or did we >> So the way it's >> the require so just as a generalized statement, the requirement for every committee to meet twice at least twice a year is part of our goals. That's for goal not number three one or two um >> does that would be added should that be added into the policy then >> um so as as I have it written in our template
070it's the negotiations committee shall remain a standing committee because that's best practices um however it shall be exempt from any requirement to meet any number of times per year >> but then should we have it somewhere else that all that twice a year >> that's our board, >> right? Because shouldn't it be part of the policy? >> Oh, okay. That's that's a fair that's a fair discussion with team here. Um add another resolution that says all committed of it just being a law actually policy. >> We're exempting it from something that isn't actually written. >> Yeah. >> We're exempting it from the board, but you bring a valid point. >> Okay. Do do you think we need to add that motion? >> Okay, >> sounds good. Um, that brings us to the end. Is there
071any further questions or comment and Mr. Mr. Vera, I I know this was something you wanted to make sure you're here for. Um, so far everything has gone exactly as I think we all sort of had consensus on where we wanted it to go, but just for lots of reasons, not the least, which is the open public meetings that we have to do this publicly. Um, it all the thoughts that were shared at the last board meeting and submitted um in the information gathering. It pretty much aligns at the end process. I'm going to read the exact motion on this so you will get a chance to over here. But um, it's it's all going the way we expected it to. Nothing no curve balls yet. Um I'll give everybody one more chance for a
072curveball and then I will read the proposed motion that I believe we've just built. >> Did you have anything about climate and culture? >> There was two different ones written on here as Okay. All right. So, um the motion that I will ask for a motion in a second for is whereas the board of education um established a board goal to review and evaluate its committee structure to ensure alignment with current district policy priorities and effective governance practices. 10. Whereas the board of education has reviewed its existing committee structure and board policy 9130 which outlines the board's standing and ad hoc committees. And whereas as a result of the review, the board has determined that the modifications to the committee structure are appropriate to improve effectiveness, clarity of oversight, and alignment with the board needs.
073Now therefore, we have resolved that the board of education affirms that the following committees shall remain intact with no change to their structure, charge or responsibilities. The committees listed there are strategic planning as an ad hoc, buildings and grounds, finance and policy. Um, and be it further resolved that the board of education hereby revises its committee structure as follows. The personnel committee is dissolved as it has not been active and it functions are otherwise addressed through board and administrative process. The athletics committee and curriculum committee are merged into a single committee known as the curriculum and co-curricular committee to provide coordinated oversight of instructional programming and other co-curricular activities. The negotiations committee shall remain. Are we leaving the negotiations committee being exempt from meeting? >> Okay. The negotiations committee shall remain a standing committee of
074the board. However, it shall be exempt from any requirements to meet a minimum number of times per year and shall convene as needed in accordance with applicable law and board policy. The legislative committee is restructured into a legislative delegate position to be appointed by the board president to monitor and report on legislative matters um impacting the district >> along with alternate >> and the alternate. Yes, sorry about that. Um, a standing communications committee is hereby established to oversee the development, coordination, and review of the board's monthly newsletter and related board communications in collaboration with the administration consistent with board policy. The base representative position is hereby eliminated and any duties previously associated with that role shall be addressed through existing board committees or delegated by the board president as appropriate. The climate and culture committee
075is hereby established as a standing committee. Previously, it was ad hoc the board of the board to support the oversight of a district climate, culture, and relative initiatives consistent with board policy. And lastly, an ad hoc special education oversight committee is hereby established to provide focused board level oversight of the district's implementations and recommendations arising from the audit um and requirements. Yes, >> that was that's not that's not changing session. >> Okay. And then the last thing it says is be it further resolved that the policy committee is directed uh to review and and make revisions to board policy 9130 and any related policies or bylaws necessary to reflect these changes, including the clarification regarding the negotiations committee meeting requirements. and to bring such recommendations forward to the full board of education for consideration um
076in accordance with policy. Um I know there was a lot just pause one more second for questions and then we'll be done and we can move on. Any questions I am asking for a motion and a second. Yes. >> Uh thank you Miss Glad and thank you for the second. I think we've had enough discussion. Yes. >> Miss Henry, please pull forward. Yes. >> Yes. >> Miss man. >> Yes. >> Mardi. >> Yes. >> Miss. >> Yes. >> Miss C. >> Yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. >> Miss. >> Yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. >> Thank you everyone. Um congratulations on officially um achieving board goal number three in January. That's uh pretty awesome. Abs. That's absolutely worth it. Um, I believe we are now ready to move on to the second public comment. I do
077think I saw someone sign up. So, I will start reading. The public shall be reminded that they should attempt to resolve any problems and complaints through initial contact with the appropriate administrator. Such matters should only be brought to the board after all avenues of administrative chain of command has been exhausted. Um, any individuals speaking must state their name. with the exception of students. Um students only need to say which school they attend. Um once I know how many speakers we'll have, we'll establish whether it's a three or a five minute time. >> Anyone else? >> A lotment. We have two speakers. So it will be a five minute um time limit. And uh Mr. Schwarz, you are our first speaker. >> All right. Good evening. Uh my name is Russell Schwarz. I'm here representing the
078BRHS Huddle Club. Uh we support the football team both throughout the football season and in the off season. Uh we've been in communication with coach Edwards and coach McGlin uh about what they could use that would uh best help the team at this time and based on our discussions with them uh we would like to make a donation to the weight room of town regional high school. Uh the items that they've requested are two 7 foot international chrome bars, 12 two and a half weight plates, uh 12 spring-loaded collars for the weightlifting bars, four adjustable benches, and a leg extension and leg curl machine. Um obviously these items would be available to the football team and all other students that have access to the weight room. Um, and if approved by the board of education,
079the order would be placed with Yorkbell and Straight Warehouse USA for the equipment. Uh, and then the equipment would be delivered to school by the vendors. >> So, just um, first of all, thank you. >> I've talked to Mr. Zabau at length about this uh, and I know that the athletic department, the entire athletic department is excited about it. The only thing that I would uh just say is if we could get the pricing on those items. The reason I ask is that there is a board policy that does require board action to improve any donation that exceeds $2,000. So if the totality of what you are going to uh donate, the board actually has to take action to accept that donation. If it's under $2,000, the board does not have to take action. So
080if you know that, it would be beneficial. So, we we don't have an exact price right now. We're still working on getting best prices on the various different equipment or what the coaches are working on that. Uh but the range that we're looking at is somewhere in the 2500 to 6,000 range depending on what exactly they get what uh they're looking at a few different machines. So, so yes, the local >> Yes. So, what we'll do is why don't uh Mr. Savo's out. So, Jen Chicali is uh thank you to the board for approving her as the acting athletic director this evening. Um Jen will I'll have Jen reach out to you tomorrow and just stay in contact so we get a finalized number and then February 4, we'll put it on the agenda for
081approval. >> Okay. >> With the itemization so that the board can follow the policy and accept the donation and then we're good to go forward. >> All right. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> And so, >> thank you Dr. Al for all the uh administration questions that you're certainly able to answer better than I would. So, I appreciate that. But just on behalf of the board um and and our students and our community, thank you so much for that donation. That is um really amazing and we are very appreciative um of your support. So, thank you for uh supporting our students. >> Happy to help. >> Um we have one other um individual sign up, Mr. Acriman. Boy, um welcome to the welcome to the party. um had uh three things to bring
082up. Uh one definitely much about Scott Aman. Um three things to bring up. One is more pressing than the other two. So I'm going to try to try to keep in that five minutes. Um the memo that went out yesterday, this is going to definitely be a lot of this around. I understand a lot of that was guidance based. However, there are some more operational questions that kind of come into play that that got that panel really didn't address. Uh so I have a couple of different questions here. Um, thank you for bringing up about exigent circumstances having a concept that's a legal definition. Appreciate that. Um, but what is the ch command if um, we're not here. If you're saying that you are the chief person that needs to be coordinated, what is the
083who's next in line? >> Defering council. >> Oh, no. So, we'll listen and I'll take in all of your questions and then I'd be happy to respond to you >> with detailed answers. Right? So that you can have the five minutes to ask all of the questions that you want and do difference to you. I will give you detailed answers so long as they are not disclosing specific things about security posture for the district because we can't do that. >> But we'll accept all of the questions that you have. If it is something that's simple that I can answer or count council can answer during the time, but if it requires a more inepth response out of respect for your your five minutes, ask all of your questions and then we'll take them down and
084we'll either respond to you in writing or as we're going to respond to you today. >> Appreciate that. So that's the first one is the change concept if you're not available. The second question is what is the process of notification to families if there happens to be a circumstance on on the grounds? I know that that's something that if there is any type of lockdown communication go out about that what would there be the consequent what would be the communication method of notifications? Um, when will there be outreach to the township and city police for their support if there is a circumstance occurs? Um, is this pertaining to the school building itself or where does it fall in line extension through the grounds, parking lots, the athletic fields, bus stops and also bus driver responsibilities?
085Um, my understanding is that technically the district is in responsible of the children as soon as they step on a bus. Um, however, a building and they plus there is a difference there. Um so those are the questions I have in relation to the other two pieces one much easier uh strategic plan my understanding I could be this might show my around that is if that is a working document then there's no reason why you couldn't be amending the plan during this five years. Um I work part of my world is I'm also project management uh trying to get my project management professional certification but we operate with project management plans that are living documents. So I have a life for project there's a lot of things they're talking about ad hoc that relate to
086this. So if that is the case you're right and that was set in 2023 this is not the same um a lot of different came through. So if that can be instead of pressing it until 2028 things that could be done as a document that might be your suggestion. And then the third thing I bring up and it's obviously I've been around the board enough times you see my face around here. So when are you going to have these meetings virtually? Just serious I've been saying it for the last five years, six years at this point. Um had it during co so when are you going to have that happen anytime soon? So those are again being respectful of your time just like Dr. said if you're finished I will address that last question but
087if not I'll give you the floor until >> Go for it. I'm good. >> Okay. So, um you may have noticed on our YouTube page, we are recording them. Um the board made a unanimous decision. I believe the vote was unanimous, um to move forward, um with we are recording the meetings and then they are posted um to our YouTube channel within there's a certain amount of administrative time that it takes to get them up there, but they are um posted upline for viewing um later. Um that is the board's intent at this point is to do that and then consider that. That's how we have decided to respond to that request. >> So, not something that can be live engagement. I'm looking at the room there's less than 20 people here and I know
088I I can't always be here at these meetings, but there's I know I'd like to be involved in trying to make a voice heard. >> We understand at this point um we have decided to move forward with recording and posting after the fact. >> Okay. >> Thank you. Thank you for that question. >> Appreciate your >> Yeah. So, I can address I can address two of the issues that you've raised because they're relatively simple to address and then two of the other questions that you have. I I will give you a more detailed response just because it does involve some of our security posture. And believe it or not, you have two divergent different guidances, right? the school office of school preparedness of what they will allow us to provide the public with respect to
089security is very different than what this guidance will allow allow us to provide with respect to that. So I don't want to overstep my bounds in school security by providing too much information. So I'll get back to you on the notification process. Simply put there will be a notification but what that looks like we'll define a little bit more for you once we have an opportunity. Um, the second question with respect to buildings and grounds, we will get back to you with a more definitive answer, but on the surface, you feel free to step in and correct me if I'm wrong. We are responsible for students on the bus, on a bus stop. So, my assumption, uh, and again, stop me if I am wrong, would be that there will be some guidance and oversight
090that is in accordance with what you've been provided on all school property, including bus But we will detail that for you. As far as chain of command, it's very simple. I am the superintendent, which means that I am the chief chief school administrator. Your specific question is what happens if I'm not here? Whenever I'm not here, there's there are other people in the district who hold the chief school administrator uh certification. Whenever I'm going to be out, one of them will be appointed as the chief school administrator during that time. But understand and I think that everybody who has been a school administrator or anybody who has been a member of the board uh I'm 24 hours I'm seven days a week whether I'm here on vacation or not I'm always accessible to address a
091situation that comes up. Now there may be somebody who is standing in mystead voicing what I am telling them but ultimately the decision will lie with me as the superintendent of schools. Okay. Um, and then the third one about uh dialogue and discussion with the township general and the city. There's already been communication on a on on a global level to set up meetings on a whole host of issues. This being one of them. So both the township and the city have either reached out to me or I have reached out to them in an attempt to uh set a definitive meeting date so that we can start to have dialogue on these things. I look forward to the opportunity to sit with them and I know that they do as well and I see
092Kelly is here uh you know and and and and we have a we dialogue today as a matter of fact. So there is uh the initial steps of collaboration have begun and I'm sure that you will be hearing more of that as that collaboration takes place. Uh but but please know that we are in conversations about how we can uh work collaboratively both with the city and with the township. Okay. And more information will come. >> Appreciate. Thank you very much. Sorry. I know like Okay. You were the chief. I know you just got here, but I know you're going to want vacation at some point. So, >> uh they there was no vacation time negotiated. >> Thank you. Budget cuts. >> Is there any further public comment? Okay. Um, seeing none, I will move
093on to public suggestions for the 2026 2027 budget. Okay, seeing none of those, we will move on to board comment and I'll open the floor to any board member. >> Just a couple quick things. Um, we've already, you know, acknowledged our um, our thespians and their great accomplishments, but what I don't think what we didn't say that I think blew me away more than anything um, were the awards we won for the food that we raised for our community. Um, at a time where there is crisis around food and and uh, community, ours, you know, comes together not just with this but consistently, but this is out of everything. All of these are proud accomplishments, but that we blew it out of the water, even against our own awesome job from last year is just
094amazing. And I think it speaks to the character of who we are as town people. Um, and so I I have to just say that, you know, that shouldn't go unnoticed and and it's amazing to see our our kids get so involved with our community. Um, so that's, you know, awesome job and thank you. Um, the other thing, uh, just to wanted to quickly go over. Nothing in depth. I've been reading legis. >> Well, no, I don't have that. You might have in-depth stuff. I'm not going to dep I I know there's a lot of bills that carry over that went to the um education committees. Um some of them I find interesting and may potentially have an impact on our district with finance. Um one was interesting. It was about um board members and
095being volunteers and more clearly defining the roles um and what is allowed for a board member to volunteer in the classroom which I think we'll have to pay strict attention to if it does move because I know we do have board members who are very actively involved in our classroom um and they are redefining what is allowed uh potentially if it goes anywhere. So again um there's a lot of interesting ones in there. The problem is most of them are carryovers. They've been there for a long time and are just not going to move out of many. that's just kind of where they go to die. So, it's it's great to see them and watch them and and pay attention and see what's coming down the line, but when you see that they're at 25%
096and they've been at 25% for like the last year, likely not going to get out of committee. Um, unless you get people that get out there, read it, and start making enough noise to where maybe you can get some motion. Um, but one of the goals I have is to try to to be more um checked in on that side and bring to us where I think there's uh an effort that we could make to uh get our community involved and are their voices being heard. Um but I didn't you might have more specific and I didn't get to that level. So there, like you stated, there was a lot of um bills that that showed up in the legisl and um two that I felt that uh really stood out um was the S1570
097and that would limit annual reductions in state aid to no more than 1% year-over-year. That would be it would have a tremendous impact for us come budget time. um and allow us to plan uh accordingly and we know that uh what to expect. So every year during budget time we kind of hope and pray that things pan out the right way which doesn't and we always fearful as to how much budget is going to be cut um taken away from us. So the S1570 would limit that to 1%. And uh the other a bill would be S1579. This would provide additional targeted funding for categorical areas in special education, security, and transportation. Um I don't know if everyone's aware, but our special special education uh budget is has increased tremendously. The state aid formula only
098gives us 17%. Um, and we are at 24% and increasing year-over-year in special education. So, this bill, if it was to pass, would uh targeted in giving us um more funding in that area. These were put in by district 9, but it would be beneficial to reach out to our uh legislators which u you have Carol Murphy, you have Alier Singh and Senator Troy Singleton part of district 7 that you can reach out to and access support. >> Yeah. And to partner with that There's also an S187 that's it. This is the problem with looking at legislant like the one that you have limits it to 1%. S187 limits it to 5% because I guess when 1% wasn't moving they put 5% in to try to get 5% to move. Um >> yeah, it's just
099that it's just the world of it. But but the louder we are as a community um the better there are chances of them moving. Um, so I I hope we can be loud, but you know, we just have to watch and and and see what comes down. >> Yeah. I mean, to the point of being loud, I do know our voices, our community's voices um last year. Absolutely did help us in the predicament we found ourselves in last year. So um sometimes it feels like you're sending an email or writing an email and sending it off into nowhere. That's not at all the case. Um, again, we know for a fact that the voices that the outcry that we had last year helped us. So, um, it it does help. So, thank you both for
100that. >> Um, I want to piggyback on what the student representative stated regarding Mattie Blumenthol's 100 match. Um, if you've never been to a wrestling I'm not a wrestling parent. I'm a softball parent and a bowling parent. So, if you've never been to wrestling match. If you need a natural high, go to one. Um I was there with Mr. Jensen. I know um Mr. Harts was there. And it there's video evidence of my just being just as excitable as her parents were um for this uh great opportunity for our school. She's the first female in our school to hit this this mark. Um and there are many behind her. Um I think this year alone, not all state, but about 29 females signed up to be wrestlers this year. Um so that's a amazing effort
101between Florence and Bordontown to create this club and to continue this club. So um you know, my hand my my praise goes to her and her parents for for raising this great student athlete and for us to have that ability to recognize her. So >> thank you So, Mr. Ac, I want to thank you personally for always showing up and asking the questions. >> Not always. That's what that's the problem. >> You're here a lot. That's good though because everybody there are a lot of concerns in our community, a lot of talk and chatter, and a lot of times things just stay out on Facebook or wherever. you know, they don't come here to get that um question and answer and to help put your mind at ease a little bit. Obviously, everybody here, including
102the superintendent, he can't control everything and anything, but at least now you know that there is a plan. There is, and I mean, I think we all know as a community, we are strong and we do all care and protect our kids. So, but I appreciate you coming out and asking those questions. Just keep the dialogue open. So, thank you. >> Can I just add one thing because I think it's important and I didn't have an opportunity or I missed the opportunity. Um, with the questions, right, and with the concern and it obviously is a concern. I think one of the things that's important to know is 8 o'clock in the morning today, Jody Glenn was in my office and we had a very long conversation about going out to the counselors in the district
103and talking to our students to find out do our students need anything right now based on what is taking place. There's a lot of things and a lot of discussion that's happening whether it be on social media, in the news, local news, local papers, and it was critically important for Jody to advocate having those dialogue and that discussion with her team, which she did. Um, and I think that that is incredibly important to bring to light as well and to let everybody know that not only are we obviously looking at what our policies are, what our procedures are, what are we going to do on a school bus, what are we going to do, but at the same time, we have to put our students first. We have to put the needs of our students
104first. And Jody advocated for that this morning. I know that she did that work today because I looked at uh all of that good work. So, I do, as somebody said, I want to thank Jod for everything that she does, but It's important for the board to know and for the community to know that while we hear all of these things that are happening in our neighboring communities and we see letters that are going out and memos that are going out and questions are raised about all of these things, sometimes what's forgotten in all of that are the kids that are 5, 7, 8, 12, 16, 18 that are in our schools every day. But one thing that we did which I want to commend Jody for and take no credit for myself is is
105go out out to our counselors today at every one of the buildings to see is there more that we need to be doing from a social and emotional perspective to support our students. Not going to go into details information about that but the community know why we are dealing with these difficult policy issues about how we handle it at the same time we're dealing with these difficult social emotional issues supporting our students. So thank you for that. Okay, I will just throw the very quick um note out there. So, um you will receive an email from me. It's going to be tomorrow morning at this point, I think. Um I know some of you have already submitted your committee um requests, but um that may have changed based on tonight's discussion, possibly not, but it
106might have. So, you will receive the official request from me uh tomorrow morning. um please get back to me no later than Monday um the 26th with your requests so that I can make the appointments by um the 30th for all of our committees and that will go out um you know as soon as I have that um seeing no further discussion I will ask for a motion to close >> move thank you and this man thank you all in favor