001In compliance with the open public meeting act, this is to announce that adequate notice of this meeting was provided in the following manner. [snorts] Schedule meetings to be held from April 9th, 2025 through June 10th, 2026 was conveyed to the county times and the times of trend on April 3rd, 2025. Please stand for the salute by the flag and a moment of silence to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic. stands one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> All right. So, we'll go over the election results on November 4th, 2025. This is agenda item D. Um, Um sources says for township we had um three of our board members Laura P at 3700 for Carmen Rivera at 3600 and Ryan Jens at 3,400 um roughly
002and then for bord city we have James M at um roughly at 1500 almost and then Melissa McCartney at 56 for Philsboro. Um and that concludes our election results. We already did the scoring. So now we'll go to agenda item F for roll call. >> Miss Jens >> here. >> Miss Gl >> here. >> Miss man >> here. >> Miss McCarti >> here. >> Miss Johnson >> here. >> Miss Pap >> here. >> Miss Rivera >> here. [snorts] Miss >> here. >> Mr. Showski >> here. So happy new year to everyone. Tonight we will have two meetings. Um the first meeting will be the reorganization meeting mandatory to elect officers and for the new board members to begin their duty of office. The second meeting the public meeting will address normal reoccurring business. So at
003this time I will ask for a nomination. Um and the nomination process goes this way. Nomination and election of the board of education officers is required by New Jersey statute 10 col4-14. It requires that the public be able to determine how each board member voted and the minutes of the meetings must reflect such votes. The voting process is normally held at this meeting, the reorganization meeting by board policy. The candidate who has the majority of the board votes will win the seat. After the selection of officers, the board president will take charge of the meeting. So, at this time, um we have traditionally had our votes um by voice and I would say that we'll continue that tradition. Okay. Second, just my tally. So at this time I'll take nomination [clears throat] for the president.
004>> Take uh I would like to nominate Richki for the president position. >> But I don't mind having a second. She asked me is a second >> required and I heard both ways but I to have a second record. >> We should have a second for >> Thank you. All right. At this time I will now take the vote. Mr. Jens. >> Yes. Miss Flats. >> Yes. >> Miss Man, >> yes. >> Miss McCartney, >> yes. >> Miss, >> yes. >> Miss Pap, >> yes. >> Miss Rivera, >> yes. >> Miss, >> yes. >> And Mr. >> Yes. >> That is every vote. So that's unanimous. Yes. >> Yes. So at this time I would take nomination for from the floor for vice president. >> I would like to nominate Laura Pap for the vice
005presidency. >> Second. >> Nominations. I will take the vote at this time. Mr. Jens. >> Yes. >> Miss Glass. >> Yes. >> Miss man. >> Yes. >> Miss McCarti. >> Yes. >> Miss N. Yes, >> Miss Rivera. >> Yes, >> M. Miss. >> Yes, >> Mr. Shadows. >> Yes, >> Miss P. >> Yes, >> again. Yes. [applause] Congratulations. I do want to thank you all for the uh the vote of confidence. It was a incredibly interesting 10 months. Um, and I look forward to continuing all the good hard work that we've all been doing over the past 10 months over the next 12. Couldn't be happier having my side asp. So, thank you again. >> So, the do we have to do G? Do we have to do separately? All of them. Okay. So I
006will now ask for a motion for the remaining items in section G 2. >> So moved. >> Thank you, Miss Pat. >> Second is not for a second. Are there any questions about two through four in section G? >> Nothing's changed in anything. This is just basic stuff that's always been >> that that's correct. >> Right. That's correct. because it's all the standard operating procedures that we operate by that haven't been modified for quite some time as far as [snorts] we should be adopting Robert >> okay any other questions see >> Mr. Miss Jenn. >> Yes. >> Miss Glads. >> Yes. >> Miss M. >> Yes. >> Miss McCarti. >> Yes. >> Miss. >> Yes. >> Miss Cat. >> Yes. >> M. >> Yes. >> Miss. >> Yes. >> Mr. Johnson. >> Yes. >> Okay.
007Are there any other questions regarding how the works or anything that we just did? >> Okay. We will now move on to section H uh public forum for agenda items only. There's any members of the public that speak on an agenda. Okay. Thank you. Um moving on to consent agenda. I there is one item for vote or ask for a motion. So moved. >> Thank you, Miss Glass. Thank you for the second. Any questions about uh I1? >> Mr. Jens, >> yes. >> Miss Gl, >> yes. >> Miss, >> yes. >> Miss McCarti, >> yes. >> Miss Nson, >> yes. Miss, >> yes. >> Mer, >> yes. >> Miss, >> yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. >> Motion carries. >> Thank you. Uh we do not have any reports from committee. So we move on to
008agenda item K, the superintendent's report. Um so Dr. would you like to say something first or have us vote and then and then have some time? >> I will be brief. >> Okay. >> I'll speak uh more in depth at the 21st. Uh I would just like to say it's been an eventful four days. We've been here four days and it's been eventful, but it's been uh over, you know, overwhelmingly uh positive from my perspective. I'd like to thank the executive cabinet. I'd like to thank uh the principles, the teachers, the schools, the students. I've had the opportunity to be everywhere and meet with everybody and and um it's really been a remarkable four days. So, I look forward to the work that we're going to do together and hopefully you don't get tired of
009receiving the messages from me and I want to make sure that you're all in the loop about what's going on. Uh and I look forward to meeting with the public. Letter went out yesterday. We had three dates set. I look forward. I encourage you to come out, ask questions, and engage because uh we want to hear from you. So, with that being said, thank you and congratulations to the newly elected, reelected >> board. Thank you, Dr. I will just add um it's something that Miss Pap and I had spoke briefly about when we saw the uh the letter come out. Um assuming that there's going to be board members that want to be present at each one of those um meetings, um we want to be careful not to violate any of the open public
010meeting acts. So let's make sure we coordinate so that there's four or less board members at each meeting. So if we have to alternate so that we each get a chance to go um and I can facilitate that or Dr. Either way. Let's just be conscious that we don't have five board members at any one of those meetings. >> Okay. Thank you for coming. >> Thank you. Uh we do not have to accept so we can move on to agenda curriculum. There's one motion. >> Thank you, Miss Man. >> Second. >> And thank you, Miss Nas. Any discussion on one, please? >> Mr. Jens, >> yes. >> M. >> Yes. >> M. >> Yes. >> Mardi. >> Yes. M. >> Yes. >> M. >> Yes. Mr. >> Yes. Motion carries. [snorts] >> We're now on
011personnel item M with items 1 through 17. I'll ask for a motion to open >> Pat. And thank you, Miss Latz. 31st. [snorts] >> Any discussion or questions on M1 through 17? >> I had just a question about numbers 13 and 14. Um it looks like we have two student teachers in the same um the same classroom at the same time. Is that correct? >> Oh, wait a minute. Hold on. I'm using the print out. So, we must have changed numbers. >> Yes. >> The T 16 and 17. >> 16 and 17. Now, >> there's two student teachers being approved for the 17th of February through the 8th of May. And they are both under the mentorship of Jennifer McCann. So, I was just wondering if that is the one classroom that's going to have
012two student teachers and a regular teacher at the same time. And if so, is that normal? >> So, she teaches two different things. >> Okay. >> So, there'll be one for both of those. >> Okay. >> Thank you, M. >> Any other questions for 1 through 17? Senator, please hold the vote. >> Mr. Jens, >> yes. >> Miss Gl man, >> yes. >> Miss McCarti, >> yes. >> Miss Dawson, >> yes. >> Miss Pat, >> yes. >> Mr. River, >> yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. >> Mr. Shadows, >> yes. >> Motion pass. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> We do not have any items under business and finance. So, we will move on to O policy. We have uh A through J that are up for second reading for policy. Ask for a motion
013to open. >> So, moved. >> Thank you, Miss Man. Second >> and Mr. Jen for the second. Um questions regarding the policy one through J. >> Is J the AI one is that the new the new is we're in the second read of that new new >> correct. Yeah, that so that was we took the standard policy from the NJSBA on AI um just to get something on the books for now under for AI and then we'll we'll work towards customizing it for how we need it but we wanted something on the books. >> Do you mind if I make a quick comment just for clarification? Some of these may be new policies, but a few of them that are the older things that the screen screening for dyslexia, surrogate resource family parents, it's not
014that we never had a policy on those, it's that those components were incorporated within broader pol other broader policies that were in existence. So there would have been a section of another policy about screening for dyslexia. There would have been a section of the special ed policy about resource parents. I just want to mention that. >> Thank you, M. See no further discussion. >> Mr. Jennings, >> yes. >> Miss Glad, >> yes. >> Miss May, >> yes. >> Miss McCartney, >> yes. >> Miss, >> yes. M. >> Yes. >> Ma, >> yes. >> Miss, >> yes. >> M. >> Yes. >> Thank you. >> We are now on agenda item P, public comments. This is the open forum for any comments. Anybody from the public that wishes to speak in person? I don't know. >>
015[laughter] >> Yep, that's the next. No, that's that's what's next. Um, any suggestions from the public for the 2026 2027 budget? >> I actually think we're positioned to do very well. Seeing no public comment, uh, I'll open the floor for board comment. Love this floors. >> No, I just I am an optimist. I am a true optimist, but the next couple years I'm just preparing for but expecting the best. So, >> so I just wanted to comment um I apologize for not mentioning this during the actual uh section. Um but I did not realize that there were new things added since the agenda we got via email. Um, and as we tend to do, I just want to say thank you um to Justin Warren who is volunteering to be a wrestling coach. Um, I
016think one of the things that this board always wants to make sure to do is thank those who volunteer. Um, and I apologize for missing that. Um, but I wanted to still acknowledge it. >> Thank you. >> Happy New Year everybody. >> Happy New Year. >> It's good to be here. Before you move on, did you want to speak towards what comes next with um committees? >> That's exactly what that's where I was getting ready to go. I was giving everybody a chance to say whatever they needed. So, yes. So, um you've all received this email from me once before either in February when everything um was shaken up or when you were appointed later on in the year. But um the next thing for us to do is to reorganize our committees. So, I
017will take that. It'll be the an email um from last year uh and I will send that email out again and I'll ask you to respond with your preferences on which committees you'd like to serve on as well as if you'd like to chair a committee and which committee that would be. So be on the lookout for that email. Um we do have our board goals that we voted on back in December are live on the website. Thank you Dr. Alabello or whatever that but that was awesome to see that happen so fast. Um the reason I'm mentioning that is because one of our board goals is to review those committ whe whether or not they are relevant um and make any adjustments as needed. That's one of our four goals. I think it's wise
018for us to go through the committees as they exist now and make all the appointments because that process of reviewing them would become not saying it will but it could potentially become lengthy and it's not good practice or not good form to leave committees unfilled. I don't know if there's any thoughts or >> well I would say >> the only thought I had is if I could be remembering incorrectly because I'm the first to admit my memory is shady. Um, the policy we have that outlines committees has committees listed that we have not been filling. Um, so I understand wanting to just fill the ones we have, but I think we really need to look at the ones that are in policy that says we're having these that we don't because we should quickly decide
019either to change the policy, remove them, or get them filled. >> Okay. Um, So on that put out everything that the policy states that we're supposed to have to include what we've had fill them then those that are in charge of those committees review them bring them to the board and say what I've what I'm reading as a member of this committee either it could be with somebody else's committee or if we're not it's not something valid for you know. So make sure that you the committee person does the due diligence. >> Now and to add a little more complexity as well as the standing committees there are a few ad hoc committees that we also have been traditionally just assigning roles to. So um that's another thing to think about whether or not we
020want to continue to assign roles to technically ad hoc committee that would be stood up um for the time that is needed and then dispanded as soon as it's done. that has not been our historical practice. We've just continued to fill them. Um is there any thought on do just standing committees or do all the ones that we've been filling whether they're standing or ad hoc? >> Well, we discussed um very lightly about the um idea of adding a special education >> maybe an ad hoc or a committee itself. So I'm not sure if you want to do that via email discussion >> some things like that we should because of open public meeting act we should >> I was just going to give you just a tiny bit of guidance. Yeah, if you do
021something like that, I would suggest that one be an ad hoc one. Um, you know, because you're you're reviewing procedures right now um with the audit, but um you know, it's not the kind of committee that you're going to, you know, continually be reviewing because you're not going to go all the way down to student IEPs, you know, or the vast majority of it all is dictated by the FEA, you know. So, that's just a thought there. I'm looking at the uh is it eight committees and you definitely I don't think have ever filled the legislative committee. >> Um >> we have a uh delegate we do f we do fill the delegate position and what I would point out that's similar to filling the delegate position is we also always fill um the base
022the base rep which is sort of like a base is supposed to be sort of like a special ed committee. Um, it hasn't really been act it hasn't been active in years. Prior to all the shakeup last year, it was one of the goals in January of 2025. One of the goals for the board was to get base sort of up and running again. But then >> because you go in the Facebook group like it's not >> Yeah. Well, we need to do that. If that's the CPAC group, that has to happen. Um, but yeah, I see athletics, buildings and grounds, curriculum, student activity. It's not too too far off. It's just climate and culture is called something different than what it's called. >> I also have a >> it also lists a personnel committee,
023>> right? >> And that's something that we have not >> historically called for and I don't know I think those things need to be discussions before we change policy. I think the board has to weigh in on whether we feel that is a committee that is >> still relevant and and beneficial for us to have. >> The other one was athletics that we talked about so much and when you actually read the descriptions um student activities also mentions athletics under it. So it's like >> is that work being done twice or not at all? And so I think >> I think we did discuss to do a vote together, right? That we said we would do >> um the athletics and student activities or just call it student activities, >> right? What is the base?
024>> It's supposed to be the between base between that whole base group that base. >> Okay. person that I was made aware of that was in charge or at least running the Facebook was um Barbara. >> She still she still is. I mean, she's not really um I've I've spoken with her a few times. She still is in the community. Obviously, she's not the school community, >> but in the special ed community, she's still very active. >> I reached out to that group before I was even new and it wasn't very helpful. >> So, by regulation, you have to have a seat. So, >> I just it wasn't very active, >> right? It kind of went defunct a few years ago and we've had trouble finding a parent that, you know, is willing to to
025be the leader of it. But in most districts, it's not a board level leaison. It's the director of special services themselves that forms the link, you know, is the go between. Because one thing about CPA groups is you want the director and the child study team to have like a working and communicative relationship. you don't want the parents just getting together and talking about your programs without the district, you know, showcasing its programs through that. You know, it's an opportunity to lead a um but it can it can devolve into something different if you don't have it in hand and you know that involves kind of the administrator being part of it too. >> Should we like would we should we make suggestions or who knows somebody who would be interested because I off the
026top of my head know a parent who would be interested in Like if we need a fair, you know, >> it's something you want to talk about with your director and you know it should go through the chain committee. >> But you know what? So what do you appoint a parent? >> He's saying it should be Joe Merson or not a parent. It shouldn't be one of us. It should be Joe Mercing. >> No, no, no. I'm saying for the parent that's >> because that's who it was. The parent was running the Facebook group and supposed to be the >> I think I think What we're getting at is there seems to be like a confluence of two different things, right? There's a there's a board committee that was called base here that was driven
027by a parent or run by a parent that was acting as CP, right? When in actuality from a regulatory position, we are required by law to have CPEG and in most places it is led by the director of student services. So it is a district-led um engagement group >> for students uh for the parents of students with special needs. So I think what what Cameron is is is suggesting which is what I would agree with is that this would really this would be potentially something that would be removed from the policy or from the committee list of the board and then we would stand up CPG CP appropriately and then any board member could be part of that parallel whether you have a student with disabilities and you don't but it really be a district
028level committee to allow parents to engage with our student services department. It shouldn't be or or the regulation doesn't require it to be a parent le or a a board committee le organization. So I think that's what right all the regulation requires is that it exists and it's helpful if the administrator who's in charge of the special services department is the link there because that kind of avoids anybody trying to pressure board members to exert authority and you know run file of ethical issues and those things at the same time they will come to board members and let them know and all that will go to the superintendent and to the director but with that direct link the director's already bringing you know um just thought I and I don't want to get too I
029was just going to say and I think that if you do go or the board does decide then to stand up an ad hoc special education committee then you have the committee of the board that will be acting uh for a period of time with respect to uh special education issues from a policy and a board perspective and then you will have the the CPEG which would be separate run by the director of uh student services and my obviously will be part of that um that would be the engagement piece. So if you do stand up the ad hoc special education committee and then we move this to a districtrun CPEG then there's no need for base is is I think that would be the direction that I would recommend for you to go. >>
030Right. That was exactly how I would frame it. An ad hoc special ed committee but that you know can be independent of the link between you know the CPAC group as long as the CPAC group is established and are compliant with the regulation. I think that's >> that sounds really good and it makes makes sense for the special services director. They're the ones ultimately making certain decisions and they know well they should know the law and know how things are supposed to be run so they can answer the questions clearly >> and I know >> well and and and the reality of it is that it's also to offer you know for essential for example if you were doing things monthly uh the director of student services could provide a presentation about the reevaluation process
031the director they could bring child study team members and talk to families about what response to intervention is what is What does it look like? How does a how does a student go from being in a general education? Like all of those t those are the things that should be being presented by the director of student services, the office of student services for families to engage and ask their questions there. And then the ad hoc committee that we will establish will be really be more focused on making sure that we are compliant with regulation, policy, laws and and getting updates as to where we are with the um the audit and findings of the audit and things of that nature. >> Reviewing trends in the district, budgetary manage relevance of special education, but it keeps
032everybody in their lanes because one's a policym function, but the CPAD group is going to have a lot of parents that want to get into the nitty-gritty of their kids IEPs, talk about the program, and that's an administrative thing. So that's like the divide >> and I think with the CPA thing that's very >> that's something that obviously you need to have should have but starting a new that you know as a as a as a parent that had children with IEPs I was out on the limo by myself. If I had a monthly group or a monthly meeting or even just a monthly email of hey this is what this thing looks like whatever it is as I'm going through the process I would feel and then I have other parents that were going
033through the same process or in in different phases of a process, I would have that better understanding and I wouldn't be standing at a board meeting, you're not taking care of the kid. >> Yes. >> And one last thing I would add about CPA, I don't know that it should wait for a parent to raise their hand. >> What about the survey that went out in like November asking for to serve on um like a special committee because I know parents have filled it out and they haven't heard back. So is that is that that's what that is. So this has already gone out to parents to join. >> Um >> well it's definitely open to all parents to join and be part of. Right. I will follow up with Joe tomorrow just to see
034where we are with CPE and make sure that it is up and running and if not it will be up and running effective tomorrow >> because I definitely know there's parents that are special educators that like filled it out and they have not heard anything just assume they didn't get children. >> There will be a CPEG meeting >> in boarding before the end of January. >> Okay, >> that's good to hear. Thank you for that. Um I think there were a few other when the discussion of that committee came up a few [cough] other um requests or desires to see oversight. We can talk about that um later. Um in hearing all the discussion about the special ed ad hoc or committee or whatever it's going to be and then the CED which maybe two
035different things maybe one thing. I think it may remains to be determined I'm confident we will figure it out. But I do also believe there's a few other places where a similar conversation like that exists. So I sort of as I was listening came up with uh a revised idea because of that that I wanted to maybe bounce around. Um our next meeting is two weeks from tonight. It's the 21st. I don't with the exception of policy which I'll defer to Miss Papon since she was the chair last year of policy. Um and then Miss Henry I'll ask you about finance. I know um policy just meets all the time. So I don't know if there's any risk in having a delay on policy over the next two weeks or if there's any risk for
036finance. I think we probably do have two weeks. Um so I would still my revised plan would be to still send out the email with all the committees um both standing and ad hoc as well as the ones that I understand are proposed. um which would prime us for a conversation during our next meeting to iron out iron all that out and then we could leave the meeting on the 21st with okay now circle back to that email here's what we all just agreed upon at our last meeting um which would be the 21st now put your requests in for any committees that you want to be on and if you want to chair one if we can iron it out >> by the time we're done the next meeting on the 21st. Does that
037seem too aggressive or does that seem fair? >> Let's just do it. >> Okay. And then we'll have our first board goal knocked off in January. So that's I'm loving that. [laughter] >> It's going to be made easy here. I like it. >> I thought there's no way. [laughter] [snorts] >> Okay. So hearing no uh no opposition to that. and that is the plan. So, um that's what the will be and we'll go from there. Is there any other board discussion? Okay, I will ask for a motion to close. >> Thank you, Miss Glatt. >> And Miss Man. Thank you. All in favor? >> We are close. Thank you everyone. birthday.