001Public meetings act. Adequate public notice has been given by the secretary of the East Township Board of Education in the following manner. Posted written notice to the official Bolton board at the board of education office. Emailing written notice to the Burlington County Times and the Courier Post. Filing a written notice with the municipal clerk of the Eian Township. All right. And can we go with a roll call, please? Roll call, please. Roll call, Mr. Brown here. Miss Moitz here. Mr. Dear here. Miss Fox here. Mrs. Null here. Mr. Thompson here. Mr. Peeleman here. Mr. Bach here. Mr. Compton is absent. We have a quorum. Whereas NJSA 104 to 12 allows for a public body to go enter into a closed session during a public meeting. And whereas the board of education of Eastern Township has
002deemed it necessary to go into close session to discuss certain matters which are exempted from the public. And whereas the regular meeting of the board of education will reconvene following the end of the close session at approximately 7:30 p.m. Now therefore be it resolved that the board of education will go into close session for the following reasons outlined as outlined in NJSA 104 to 12. Items 2.2 through 2.4. Can I get a roll call to go into executive session, please? Motion to go into executive session, please. We got Tracy. Motion by Miss Fox, second by Mr. Thompson. All those in favor? I I We're in executive session. [Music] We Heat. Heat. Hey, hey, hey. Hey, tell me [Music] Enmy has been slain. Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Hey, hey, hey. [Music] All right. [Music]
003Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] Hey, hey, hey. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Hey. Heat. Heat. [Music] Everybody feel [Music] Happy birthday. Mr. Brown, would you please read the mission statement? Yes, sir. The mission of Isam Township School District is to promote excellence in an environment that engages students in meaningful learning experiences in partnership with students, dedicated staff, families, and community. The district provides a strong educational foundation that will empower our students to achieve their unique potential, embrace selfdirected lifelong learning, develop the skills necessary for appropriate risk-taking and responsible decision-making, respect themselves and others, problem solve individually and collaboratively, become contributing members of a diverse global society. Thank you very much, Mr. Brown. We have a lot of presentations to do today. Thank you, Mr. Bach. We do. It's a very happy thing. So,
004um, and we're going to start first with, um, a very special proclamation. And Mrs. Cole is here if you don't mind coming up and Mr. Cypaloon if you don't mind joining too as vice president of the Ed Foundation and I've got Mr. Bach and Mr. Dearcy if you don't mind coming up. Mr. De Marcy is the uh the board liaison to the EAM education foundation. We have the the greatest education foundation in the state and uh Mr. Larry Cole was a founding member of the Ed Foundation and a amazing contributor to that group over decades. John was since the beginning, 30 years. Um, one of the programs that's been funded by the education foundation has been our CAPS program. It helps incoming kindergarteners uh adjust and succeed uh in that very important grade. And uh
005so we as a district to honor Mr. Cole's legacy are tonight up for board approval. We're going to rename uh the the coal the CAPS program as the coal caps program. And I I just I want to read the uh proclamation so we can all hear it. Just think um it's really emblematic of just what a what a village effort over decades our district and our town is and continues to be. So whereas Larry Cole made significant contributions to our community through his invaluable role in helping found the Esham Education Foundation and serving on its board since its inception. Whereas Mr. Cole's dedication and generosity to the students of Esham Township is cherished as an unmatched model of service and this impact echoes in the lives of countless children across decades. Whereas the Cole family
006in utmost fidelity to Mr. Cole's vision and example has continued to build on his shining legacy of commitment and contribution to the EAM Education Foundation and through it to the students of EAM Township School District. Whereas it is supremely fitting that we acknowledge and honor Mr. Lawrence Cole for his exemplary impact. Now therefore, be it resolved that the EAM Township School District Board of Education hereby proclaims and henceforth renames the Coordinated Arts Program for Primary Students or CAPS program as the Coal Caps program. The Coal Caps program helps incoming kindergarten students develop social readiness and academic skills, thereby laying the foundation for their future success in kindergarten and throughout their lives. Just as the impact of the Cole Caps program echoes in their lives, so too does Mr. Cole's impact echo deeply in the foundation's
007work now and beyond. In testimony whereof, the board of education has caused this proclamation to be signed and sealed by the board president. Date today, signed by our board president, Inish Canthan, Asian Township School District, and it will be approved later in the agenda after all the recognitions are over. But that that's probably [Applause] So, we'll be making that change on our website and in all of our materials uh to say Cole Cap's program. And I'm so glad you could be with us tonight for this. Yeah. Thank you. [Applause] It's really wonderful to have all so many students and families gathered for all these awards including that first one just because when we talk about children you know that word on a piece of paper is kind of abstract but in this cafeteria right now
008it's extremely concrete it's it's all the students who are here now and your success whether you're in the CAPS program or not but since everything we do is a web and and supporting in one area means means other areas are better able to breathe and work. So the success of any one student is also helped by by the help from um the Cole family. So thank you for that. Um so we're going to honor a staff member right now. She's here, Dr. D. Dr. Danielle Freriedenthal, if she's here, come on down. And then if Miss BS is here, too. I don't know if she's here, but um she may not be. Uh Miss BS, the principal of MEES, recommended and nominated uh Dr. to Freriedenthal for this award. She was selected as the visionary leader
009in the shining star category of the Burlington County Principles and Supervisors Association, BC, um PSA. And uh it's an amazing achievement to be recognized across our entire county. It's 100,000% earned and and deserved. Um you know, it's it's privilege to get to work with you and see you work at MEES and across our schools. Um so congratulations on that award. [Applause] We've got um this is a really fun one. If if Isabelle Hurley is here and can come on down. It's it's so you know how often do you get to recognize um one artwork, right? And this was a poster. So, you know, some use some sculpt in marble, some sculpt in crayon, right? And uh this is this was a poster. She is Isabelle is the grand champion of the 2025 Berlin County Soil
010Conservation District poster competition. So, across the whole county, largest county geographically out of the 21 in New Jersey, she was the grand champion. And Mr. Case, I don't know if if you're able to Yeah, we're going to queue up the Isabella. Come on. Let's come stand over here so we can see it together. So this is this is the poster. Grow your heart at home and help your habitat. That was the theme for the contest, right? So she just dove right into that, made that front and center. And then we got the heart, the four chambers of the heart, right? So you're it's like all these disciplines coming together, art, science, um, and food, shelter, water, and a place to raise young. Intricate pictures throughout. Words mingled with images. I love the little Is that
011a Is that a little chipmunk or a squirrel? Oh, a little deer head in the corner there kind of chiming in. He says, "Home is where the habitat is, right?" exclamation mark. And I I have a feeling is that like one of because we see so many deer around town. Were you thinking a little bit about the deer you might see? Your favorite I was just thinking about my favorite animal. Yeah. Yeah. I don't know if you want to say anything. Sure. Yeah. Yeah. Uh I just wanted to say that I was inspired by my sister Shave who won the same who won the same awards two years ago who did the poster contest and won Grand Champ as well. So isn't that cool? [Applause] I and I think that's that's so awesome of you
012as a as a little sister to shout out your big sister like that too. That's quite a quite an awesome um connection there you both have now. And Mr. Mrs. Hurley, I don't know if you're here, but um you want to come on down and get get a photo. If we could have Mr. Bach come over as well. Um here's your certificate. You hold that. Okay. Maybe we can we get it with the with the poster in the background. Yeah. Yeah. This will be uh if you want to get a closer look at it, I'm going to include a link to this in this week's ETSD update so you can see it. It's just you can't do justice to it. Um just looking at it here. [Applause] And then this one, this is mees representing
013tonight. This is uh Elellaniia if she's here. Oria, come on down. She has the distinction of being one of 10 students chosen in the entire Philadelphia region for recognition by the Philadelphia Affiliates organization as an allstar student. and her teach her her teacher, Miss Delphino. Congratulations. Yeah, hold that. Her her teacher, Miss Delfino, wrote the most amazing write up about her and its focus was on her kindness. And I just think like again to be elevated and and to have kindness be the focal point of of a of you know the Phillies organization which has a a reach across the entire region. It's absolutely right at the center of everything we do. So you you you represent the most important thing we we try for kindness. Congratulations. Yeah. [Applause] Oh, great, great, great. And then
014we have another award coming up. This is um for Carly Sepansky if she's here. Oh, come on up, Carly. Okay, so last um this is she won the Leroy Homer Jr. Memorial Award. Mr. Brown, do you want to join us for this? I know you're involved with the township regard to this award and um I'm going to try to work in a way to get each board member up for different things along the way. So I'm just fair warning we'll work on that. So but uh congratulations. Yeah, it's fantastic. So, scoot in. Scoot in. There we got everybody. And you were selected out of the entire town for this award. So, congratulations. I hope that gives you confidence heading into high school next year. Yeah, you can crush it up there. Awesome. Awesome. All right.
015Now, we're getting into math. So, we're going to these are the students who won uh had the the highest uh scores in our math league across the district. And uh it's a it's a number of names to read. We're going to start with Beer and uh it's got Alexander or Osario. Alexander Osario, if he's here, Arnav Sahu, if I read your name, come on up. Jacob Mr. [Applause] just and just stay up here with us. Okay. Uh Ayanch uh Shva Stava Brody Grossed. [Applause] [Music] Congratulations, Vincent. Oh, now we're moving on. So that was Yeah. I just want to make sure we we got Beer, we got Rice. Okay. Rice Green. Nice. And we've got Vanzant Vincent Gallo. [Music] [Applause] Congratulations. A note about Vincent. He also had the highest fifth grade score district-wide. So
016not just at VNAM, but across the entire district. I don't know if you knew that. You did know that. Okay. Good. Good. Good. Um, now we're moving on to sixth grade. So, this is the highest score sixth grade Marlton Middle School Bluehouse, Logan Jaru. [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Then we've got um Middle Blue House Owen Wley. [Applause] We've got congratulations Cooper Lynch with the highest sixth grade score in yellow house. Come on up. [Applause] appropriately wearing a t-shirt that says stat. Um Mason Pion, sixth grade, highest score, yellow house. Congratulations. Congratulations. Emily Lee, highest seventh grade score, Blue House. Karen Goo. Uh, seventh grade highest score. Yellow house. [Applause] [Music] Kaden Lou, seventh grade. Yellow house. [Music] [Applause] Move this way a little bit. Samantha McMullen, seventh grade yellow house. [Applause] Congratulations. Anthony Hughes, eighth grade,
017blue house. Ryan Neerberger, eighth grade, blue house, highest score. Gavin Quinn, eighth grade, yellow house, highest score. Eighth grade had their they had their trip to Great Adventure today, by the way. So, um, and they just got back before the board meeting, and that had to have been an amazing day, um, and a tiring day. So, um, Terrence Lim, highest sixth grade score in Eastern Township School District. Congratulations. Great job. Cameron Modig, um, sixth grade greenhouse, highest score. [Applause] You can stand. Luca Kangelo, seventh grade, red house. Pushkar Vatavi Vatavi, seventh grade, highest score. Asian Township School District. Noah Glman, eighth grade, Red House, highest score. And last but not least, Isaac Flanigan, eighth grade, highest score in the district. [Applause] All right, let's let's swing it around. But watch this. We're going to We
018practiced this. We've rehearsed this. Come. We're going to swing around this way. Swing around this way. Swing around this way. And then we're going to get Yeah. Keep coming. Keep coming. We're gonna get Miss Mcul is the paparazzi. She's taking pictures. Parents are taking pictures. [Applause] All right, let's see. Um, Miss Fox want to join us? Yeah. All right, we've got stock market game. It's basically like contextualized math. stock market game. As you can imagine, seeing all the math winners, we crushed it in the stock market game. So, this was Is Miss Fry here? Miss Fry, you got to come up because this is Rice Elementary School. Oh. Oh, I'm so glad. We like it. Lots of bling. That's good. So, Rice won first place in the uh New Jersey South 2025 stock market game.
019So, and I don't I don't know if they are operationally defining south for me. That's going to be below 195. So that's a big swath of territory. Um, oh yeah, Miss We is here too. Miss We come on up. Technology teacher extraordinaire at Rice. [Applause] I'm have you Oh. You want me to read? Okay. So, first up for first place, we have Phoenix Dean Josiah Jojo Williams, [Applause] Macy Dowardy, [Applause] Olivia Saunders, Congratulations, Ava D. and [Applause] Edward Cook, Johnny Ryder, [Applause] Lincoln Jacovis, [Applause] and Shay Estock. All right. What's that? Oh, we got first place, second place, and third place. Yes. [Applause] All right. Let's see. I'm actually gonna go on to sports. We're going to move on to some sports. Softball. So, if I could have our coaches, if they're here, come on
020down. Miss King, Mr. Thomas, Mr. Hoffman, if you want to join. I don't know. It's up to you. Wait, I I didn't wear my shades. I'm being blinded. There's something really bright coming this way. It's a huge trophy. It says champions on it. It's fantastic. And uh and the championship game was on on our very grounds here at the school. So pretty epic, you know. Awesome. So I'm going to turn it over to our coaches so they can read. Yeah. Very cool. Uh, Ella Betts, come on down. Lola Betts [Applause] that way. Nora Carlton. [Applause] Alexandra Deatano. [Applause] We have yours right there. Take your time. Stuck together. Eva Escobido. [Applause] Uh, manager Abby Escalante Gonzalez. [Applause] Sarah Schneider, [Applause] manager. Rebecca Shapiro, [Applause] Hannah Souder, Haley Souder, manager Leila Vasquez here, and Ava Garini.
021Uh before the superintendent comes back up here, just a huge shout out, I want to give a huge shout out to the uh the 12th player on the field and the 11th player on the field was the fans. Uh if you came to any of the games, it was the loudest field in in probably all of South Jersey. And it was the best looking field in all of South Jersey. Tucko Turf made it look like a million dollars. and our grounds crew. Holy cow, it's a whole another level. Uh so it was awesome and we thank you for all the support. Thank you. [Applause] That's just like a a great coach to talk about all the people behind the scenes that helped make it work. Um and you know, and uh just the the players.
022Um congratulations again, champions. and uh just it sounded like an amazing run you put together. So uh Mr. Thomas, thank you. It's King. All right. And I guess next year we'll we'll we'll see we'll see what I know you're about when I saw you the day after you're so fired up like I was like let's start the next season right now. So thanks again everybody. Thank you. Thank you. [Music] [Applause] [Music] Mr. Thompson. Mr. Thompson, come on up. Going to join. So, this is um we're moving from softball to lacrosse. This is also Mustang achievement. Uh Martin Middle School boys lacrosse team. if our coaches could come on up and uh we will do our awards. Mr. Hoppin, if you want to join as well, you're welcome to. Awesome. Here they come. Awesome. Awesome. I'll
023turn over the mic, Mr. Turner. All right. Austin Cox, [Applause] Dominic Kuso, [Applause] Matthew Aani, [Applause] Asher Miller, Tyler Neerberger, [Applause] we have Carter Reeve, [Applause] Dylan Tierney, have our manager, Bella Gardner. [Applause] Luke Corson, [Applause] Nico Vasquez, Max Tillery, [Applause] We have JJ Duncan. [Applause] Jacobus Jacobus. [Applause] We have Connor Duncan. [Applause] I think that's it. Yeah. Oh my gosh, we missed the names. They're at the bottom. All right. So, it's not here. I'm calling Drew Lanzelada. Ryan Schultz. [Applause] That's it. [Applause] season or like Yeah, I'll make a quick uh quick remark. Um um I want to really take an extra shout out to all of our players on the field. Um both of us going into this um you know we didn't know everything about lacrosse and the excellent players on our
024team made sure this was really a collaborative process and it really helped that it was also a lot of studentled uh practices and drills and they really helped make the experience what it was and yeah it was really exciting to be able to go undefeated this season with everyone. So thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Mariani. Appreciate it. Undefeated season, boys lacrosse, MMS. Our last recognition is for a very special club. I'm going to ask uh Mr. Hoffman to come on up and Mr. Dangji if she's here to join us. Um it's a service organization that helps both in MS MMS and around the district called Stat. And um so ladies and gentlemen, thanks for coming out and go Mustangs. Right. So with that being said, Stan Stat stands for students teaching about technology. And
025over the course of the year, the stat club, who some of you, you've already seen the shirts up here getting you some math awards. Stat club members have created media that fosters student and family development. They facilitated the MMS Steam night workshops, organized MMS Hour of Code, volunteered and curated resources for the Jagged Math and Technology Night, and taught about robots at the Jagged Science Expo, all while honing their technological and their public speaking skills. Really proud of them folks. This is the 10th year that this student initiated club has been in operation and it is really for the benefit of the overall school community. And we'll turn it over to advisor Danji who will read the names and I'll hold the microphone. You ready? Yes. You you'll hold the mic and I'll Okay. Aaron
026Benjamin, [Applause] Belle Bonwidi, [Applause] Josh Bonwidi, [Applause] Connor Brown. [Applause] Darwin Ducas, [Applause] Marissa Carver, Karen Falconee, [Applause] William Foresight, [Applause] Alyssa George Lana Susie Karen Guo Ashvvic Gupta [Applause] Angela Henan, [Applause] Nina Lova. [Applause] Okay. Yeah. Robert Null. [Applause] Kayen Lou, Emily Lee, [Applause] too. Cooper Lynch. Yeah. Ben Mrvine, [Applause] Mason Pion, [Applause] Gavin Quinn, [Applause] Zion Ramen, [Applause] Claire Sue, [Applause] Rachel Walick, [Applause] Owen Wel, [Applause] Alex Warner, [Applause] Giana Wolson, [Applause] and Addie Yeetman. Eric Zang. And that's it. [Applause] Congratulations. Hey guys, two rows. One up here, one in the back. There we go. Thank you. Thank you. There we go. This closes the recognitions portion of the evening. This is the time it's traditionally said you're welcome to stay through the whole board agenda if you'd like. We welcome everybody. Also,
027if people have other things they need to do, we understand that too. Busy week of the year, everything going on. Um, thank you for coming and again, congratulations to all the students. Amazing. Hey, this meeting will now be open to the public referencing agenda items only. However, your questions, comments, or pertain to any litigation, student or personnel items, or negotiations, we would ask that you see the superintendent after the meeting since we do not discuss these matters in public. Please limit your comments to three minutes per person. Just to clarify, we will have a second tonight. There will be an open uh discussion uh section after this. So, if anybody has any um comments they want to make about agenda items only, Joyce Luchi, a bus driver in the district. Um, let me just check
028on light item um 10.7 substitutes. Um, it said for the um 2425 school year for bus driver substitutes. Um, I wasn't sure if you were able to clarify that of what that meant since the 2425 school year ends in a couple weeks. Good question, Joyce. Thank you. That should say the 2526 school year. Yeah. So, we'll have that fixed. But that is It should read 2526 school year, I believe. Uh, Mr. Mon's not here, but um, yeah, I believe so. Yes, that was the intent. Any other comments for agenda items? Okay. Now, closing uh public public discussion for agenda items. Moving on to approval of minutes. Um approving the May 22nd uh 2025 executive session meeting minutes. Motion. Motion. That's what I said. Did I I did not say that. No, I didn't. Motion to
029approve. Janice and seconded by Aiden, Mr. Dearcy. Roll call. Any questions? Anybody have any questions from the board? Okay. Roll call, please. Roll call vote on the approval of minutes. Mr. Brown, abstain. Your abstension is noted. Miss Moowitz, yes. Marcy, yes. Miss Fox, abstain. Your extension is noted. Mrs. Null, yes. Mr. Thompson, yes. Mr. Peeleman, yes. Mr. Bach, yes. That motion carries. Okay. Now, moving on to the superintendent report and administrative items. Dr. Smith, if you'd like to say anything. Thank you, Mr. Bach. Just a few words. We need a motion first case. Yes. Yeah. Can we have a motion for that? Yes. Miss Fox. Second. Mr. Thompson. Thank you. Floor's open. Dr. Smith. Thank you, Mr. Yates. Uh just just as we celebrated and recognized so many students and staff at this evening's board
030meeting, this final week of the 2024 25 school year is about celebrating all that has been accomplished since September. The completion of each grade is a wonderful milestone, a time to reflect on the knowledge and skills that students have acquired throughout the year, as well as on friendships developed and experiences gathered that help them grow and achieve their full potential and become more well-rounded, capable, and kind along the way. Our eighth graders will walk onto the Cherokee stage this Thursday evening as DMS Dolphins and MMS Mustangs, and they'll walk off it as Cherokee Chiefs. These middle school graduates have demonstrated cares. Cooperation, assertion, responsibility, empathy, and self-control, our district's core values, and are ready for their next chapter in high school. To our staff, gratitude for their dedication and hard work every day to support
031every student. To our families and staff, heartfelt wishes for a wonderful and restful summer of time together with loved ones. And lastly, special thanks to our personnel department and director of personnel, Michael Mongan, who couldn't be here tonight because in his former life, he was the principal of Jagard, and they're having their retirement uh dinner tonight for some very important people. um as well as many of so many of our staff who've been involved in the multitude of hirings and interviews over the past few weeks as our district has confirmed 33 hires total, including 32 certificated from among 64 vacancies, including 62 certificated. To have the funds to maintain and add these important positions, these staff for our students was an impossible dream two months ago. Thanks to the vision and strength of our board
032and supporting the additional tax levy, this dream can become reality. And we have even two of our new hires here tonight. Shetra Flores, our new uh preschool assistant principal. Great to see you here. And Kim P's in the back there, our new guidance counselor. Thank you, Kim. At uh Jagard Elementary School. We're so excited to have both of you and all of our new staff joining um what's going to be incredible year next year. So, thank you, Mr. B. All right. Does the board have any questions on item 7.1 to 7.8, administrative items? All right. See no questions. Like to make a motion to approve items 7.1 to 7.8. We have a motion by Miss Fox and a second by Mr. Thompson. Roll call vote on administrative items. Mr. Brown. Yes. Missitz? Yes. Mr. Marcy?
033Yes. Miss Fox. Yes. Abstain from 7.3. Yes. To all abstain. 7.3 is noted. Mrs. Null. Yes. Mr. Thompson. Yes. Mr. Peelman. Yes. Mr. Bach. Yes. The motion carries. All right. Moving on to curriculum and instruction. Uh, does the board have any questions or comments on You need a motion. Yeah. Motion and second, then question, then vote. You got this. You'll be okay. Um, a motion for approval for items 8.1 8.5 curriculum instruction. We got Janice and Mr. Thompson. Any questions from the board? Seeing none, roll call vote. Mr. Brown on curriculum instruction. Yes, Mel. Yes, Mr. DeMarcy. Yes, Miss Fox. Yes, Mrs. Null. Yes, Mr. Thompson. Yes, Mr. Peelman. Yes, Mr. Bach. Yes. That motion carries. Moving on to finance and operations. Uh motion to approve items 9.1 to 927. Uh Mr. Thompson, seconded by
034Mr. Brown. questions. Any questions or comments from the board? Seeing none, roll call vote on finance and operations. Mr. Brown, yes. Much? Yes. Mr. DeMarscy? Yes. Ms. Fox? Yes. Mrs. Null? Yes. Mr. Thompson? Yes. Mr. Peeleman? Yes. Mr. Bach? Yes. That motion carries. All right. Moving on to personnel. Motions to approve. A motion to approve items 10.1, 10.11. Um, Miss Fox, and Mr. Dearcy. Roll call, please. Any questions from the board? [Laughter] Got like one more to get this right. All right, seeing none, roll call on personnel items. Mr. Brown, yes. Miss Mowitz, yes. Mr. Dearcy, yes. Miss Fox, yes. Mr. Excuse me, Mrs. Null. Yes. My my apologies. Mr. Thompson, yes. Mr. Peeleman, yes. Mr. Bach, yes. That motion carries. We have uh nothing in policy for this month. Uh next, uh was committee
035reports. Does any committee chair like to give a report? Uh seeing none. None. Moving on to old business, which we have none. Uh, moving on to new business, also which we have none. Uh, now we go to open public comment. So, this is where you can comment on any items of interest. Um, so if anybody would like to comment, now's your time. All right. Seeing nobody, we're closing public comment. Um any does any board member have any announcements they'd like to make? Seeing none. All right. Um I guess we can adjurnn. Motion to adjurnn. Motion to adjurnn. Miss Fox seconded by Mr. Thompson. All those in favor? I. Thank you. We are adjourned. Good job.