001I'd like to call this meeting to order. The mission of the Free Old Township School District is to honor and support every learner every day on the journey to become curious and engaged members of a diverse global community. A notice listing the time, date, and place of this meeting was posted on the public bulletin board of all Freehill Township schools on the entrance door to the administrative offices of the board of education on the district website at the office of the free old township clerk and published in the Asbury Park Press on January 11th, 2026. Please join me for the pledge of allegiance. I aliance to the flag to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Can I get a roll call? Mr. Dvita.
002>> Mrs. Bran. >> Hi. >> Dr. Casey >> here. >> Mr. Gordy. >> Miss Crosby >> here. >> Mr. Gulo >> here. >> Mrs. Lambert. >> Mrs. Spieler. M. Sullivan. Present. >> Mr. Amaroso >> here. >> We have a quorum. >> Thank you. Can I get a motion for the approval of the May 12th regular meeting minutes? >> Have a second. >> All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Was anybody out? >> I don't recall. I think everyone's here. >> The people that are here. >> There's a couple people that were late, but otherwise they were here. >> Okay. >> She's not here to vote, so it doesn't matter. Can I get a motion for the approval of the May 12th, 2026 executive session minutes? >> All those in favor say
003I. >> Any opposed? >> Okay. Thank you. Uh president's remarks. Um I'll save most of mine for new business. Um but just uh um well, I'll save my remarks for when we talk about um all the logistics. So I'll move right to the administrative report. Um, good evening. I shared today we are having an issue at Bararko with the sound system. So, we will be moving our June 2nd board meeting which is dedicated to retiree recognition to West Freehold School. Uh, notification will go out tomorrow to all our retirees and we'll send a district email tomorrow. Also, uh, June 3rd, we also had scheduled the eighth grade first annual 8th grade uh, awards night that was scheduled to be at Barcelo. Since West Freehold will already be set up for the board meeting, we will
004also move the eighth grade awards night to West Freehold and parents who received invitations will also be notified of that move. So, June 2nd, June 3rd, uh, June 2nd board meeting, June 3rd, 8th grade awards will both be moved to West Freehold. Um we are having conversations. We finished NJSLA testing as uh we had shared previously. Uh we are considering the um reading and math are one unit of 150 minutes being the first time we've ever given this assessment. We split it over two days. That is not what is recommended by the test admin uh publisher nor the state but 150 minutes is significant amount of time. Um, however, the test is one unit, so it doesn't have a natural break. There's no stop. Like when we were in school, the little stop sign at
005the bottom doesn't exist. So, we artificially paced children and said, "Get to about 50%." Um, and then resume tomorrow. Kids can't go back to that first 50% the next day. So, um, sometimes when they came back, the percentage went up a little bit because more items were added as field part of a field test. So, while it seemed like a good idea and and it worked fine, um it it's it was an artificial two days because it's one unit. Um so, we gave them 75 minutes a day over two days. That is reading and math only. Writing is one day. It's designed to be one day of 90 minutes. And science for fifth and eighth grade is four separate units. You can only give two units a day. Fifth and eighth grade must remain two
006units a day. They have a natural stop between the units over the course of two days. Looking at next year, we are in considering changing that reading and math to be administered in one day, which is 150 minutes. That's 150 minutes that students are afforded to participate in the test. Some days classes, the earliest class we start school at 7:25 in the middle school. Some days everybody was started, not everybody, some classes were started by 7:40. There were some days that classes didn't start until 8:20 for technology reasons, whatever it may be. Um, so while they have 150 minutes, um, it really is 3h hour minimum for testing in general. From the time we start, we give the directions. Um so what we are collecting feedback via our building administrators from staff al although I
007think a good amount of feedback has already been collected and from students um of next year considering reading and math being administered in one day for 150 minutes. Uh that is challenging from an operational perspective um one because I wouldn't expect kids to engage in instruction after being engaged in a test for 150 minutes. Um, also we have contractual obligations to staff providing their preps and lunch. In elementary school, it's not a big deal. We just flip kindergarten, first and second grade take all the morning stuff related arts and lunch and third, fourth, and fifth go later. Middle school, the entire school is testing. So nobody until after testing is concluded can avail themselves of of lunch and prep and that's 86 minutes for an entire building. So combined with our contractual obligations and also
008our the fact that once students are finished with testing, it would be difficult for them to engage in meaningful work. Um from a cognitive perspective, we have I sent an email to all of um the board members that we are considering administering reading in one day and math in one day and then making those days early dismissal days. This way staff would remain after school had ended. we can give them after student dismissal the 86 minutes of prep and lunch and then we can engage in some other activity with our staff for the about 1 hour that would be left. Um and our students would go home after the four hours and that would be only two days because it's reading and math >> um to one week of testing. Right now because of the
009science we can only do two units per day. We have to stretch testing out across seven days. This would take our testing down to only five days and only disrupt the schools for a week as opposed to >> I don't have the contract in front of you, but on shortened days the prep time difference. >> No, shortened days for all the whole district, not shortened days for students. >> Yeah, but then their student contact time is only a half a day. >> It's not about the student contact time. It's about the length of the day. It's a full day for staff. >> No, that I get. But I'm saying prep time. Wasn't it designed for having student contact time the whole day? So you need prep time? >> No, it's about the length of their
010work. It's about the length of their workday. It's about the length of the staff workday. So when the work the staff workday is shortened because there's an early dismissal for students and the students and staff leave at around the same time, the prep time is 25 minutes. When the staff is here for a full day, regardless of when the students leave, it's 86 minutes. That's what I was That's the language I didn't have. >> That's fine. Yeah, if that's what >> And it's better for kids, too. >> That means students are getting less >> classroom time >> in the year over the year >> during testing. You mean? >> Well, over the course of a whole year, we're taking what? One, two, two half days. That's what we're >> then that then that's a full
011day of classroom that the kids don't get >> it's not because a half day is a 4hour day which is really not a half day kids don't go to school for eight hours >> the kids are spent at the end of the test they're just >> Oh no I'm not disagreeing with that part I just >> you want to make up the lost time but >> I just think >> you're considering it as a full half day though it's not exactly divided and >> well we don't have a choice though >> I know but >> I don't disagree with that but we don't have a choice >> you said that student I was interested in the student feedback so you assume that was a pretty >> I asked for the administrators to give me the
012final feedback tomorrow the informal feedback of us visiting schools and being spoken to um by our um staff >> was they'd prefer it to be one day it it felt disruptive um to stop testing when as Neil said there isn't there wasn't a natural break in the test and so kids were some kids moved at a much faster pace than other kids um and because we really trained them teachers to help pace kids through that there were lots of kids on the second day of testing who felt rushed even though they should have had the full >> right that was the other unfortunate concept consequence. Maybe it was more rigorous the second day or they had to spend more time. >> Yeah. >> So, giving them one day of 150 minutes um and then an
013early dismissal for us to be able to effectively give uh the teachers their contractual but also the kids are finished. Like that's >> and then after and and after testing for our kids it would be two 45 minute related arts and a 45 minute period of it would be and a 44 two 44 minute related arts and 44-minute lunch. >> So they'd almost be have no traditional classroom time meaning science, social studies, math, language arts. So >> you would have to amend the calendar. >> Yes, I would put that on the next the June 9th agenda. So, you've made the decision to do it. >> We barring any negative feedback that we get last um I heard back from six sta uh six board members all who were supportive of it and our informal feedback
014from staff right now is positive. We'll wait for tomorrow uh Thursday's administrative meeting to get the final feedback. >> Okay. Uh, since our last meeting, we had two reports of harassment, intimidation, and bullying, and both were founded. >> Can I get the board administrator certification? I, Robert Dvita, the school business administrator/board secretary certifies that as of April 30th, 2026, no line item has been overextended in violation of NJAC 6A 23A- 1610 C3 and that sufficient funds are available to meet the district's financial obligations for the remainder of the year for the fiscal year. >> Thank you. Okay, public participation. I don't know if we have any public participants. Does anybody wish to approach the podium? >> No. >> Okay. Okay. Then I'm going to skip reading that. Uh personnel policy and communications. M Crosby. >>
015Um good evening everyone. The personnel policy and communications committee did not meet this evening. So I would like to move the following items. Three, retirement as listed and a thank you and congratulations to Marie Nicks. We'll have our big moment next week. Um, four, resignation as listed. Five, adjust start date as listed. Six, change of assignment salary adjustment as listed. Seven, receive honor area as listed. Eight, stipen teacher assistance as listed. Um, >> yeah, thank you. I was going to miss that one. Nine unpaid days as listed. 10 family community leaison upbeat as listed. 11 CPR coordinator trainer as listed. 12 district lead nurse as listed. 13 district PBS coaches 2026 2027 as listed. 15 ESY 2026 again. Why am I doing that? I'm so sorry. 14 resend ESY employment as listed. 15 ESY2026 staff
016as listed, 16 summer evaluations as listed, 17 ESY 2026 transportation staff as listed, 18 summer computer technicians as listed, 19 summer curriculum committees as listed, 20 new teacher academy trainers as listed. 21 certified substitutes as listed. 22 non-certified substitutes as listed. 23 student teacher practicum observation placement as listed. 24. Affirm bullying investigation findings as listed. Thank you all for your help with that one. EG24. >> All right. I thought I missed that one. All right. Good. Um, do we have a second? >> Okay. Any questions, comments? Seeing none, get a roll call. >> Mrs. Brand? >> Yes. >> Dr. Casey? >> Yes. >> M. Crosby? >> Yes. >> M. Gulo? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Spieler? >> Yes. >> Mrs. O Sullivan? Yes, >> Mr. Amaroso. >> Yes. >> Motion carries. >> Thank you. Uh curriculum
017committee, uh Dr. Casey, >> uh the curriculum committee did not meet today. Uh so I would like to move the following course reimbursement as listed and number four, home instruction update as listed. >> Thank you. We have a second. >> Any questions for curriculum? I I do have a question. Um what would be the proper platform to discuss the the whom AI further? Should that be done in curriculum or >> committee? Okay. Other questions? Okay. All those in favor say I. >> Any opposed? Any abstensions? No. Okay. Finance It's a good job. >> Good evening. No one understands why I do that. That's Alfred Hitchcock. You say that. Good evening. No one gets it. Anyway, >> it's not the only thing. >> Yeah. Well, that's true, too. But in my day, that's he was the
018main one. The uh finance committee uh did meet. Um it was uh me, Mike, and um >> Ranada. Uh Michelle wasn't present. Uh we discussed the referendum. We discussed that early status of the product projects before school ends. Roofing work is ready to begin at some schools after hours. The district will hold its first communication committee meeting with staff on June 8th. Number two, we discussed healthc care renewal. We discussed the health care renewal for 2627. Now that we have the final stop uh loss figures, we discussed number three uh uh the WFS uh HVAC situation. We discussed an ongoing issue with the HVAC project at West Freehold that is outside of the referendum or transportation. We discussed the number of bus drivers, driver positions that will be open for September and the potential need
019to train a few more drivers over the summer. And we discussed briefly uh the agenda items. I'd like to move the uh I'd like to move the following items. Uh number H, the finance appointments and signitories. Number one, legal depositories as listed. Two, signitories as listed. Three, retirement savings program as listed. Four, annual appointments as listed. Five, uniform minimum chart of accounts as listed. Six, board attorney as listed. Seven, labor attorney as listed. Eight, special education attorney as listed. Nine, architect of record as listed. 10, auditor as listed. 11, continuing disclosure agreement as listed. 12, tax payment schedule as listed. 13. Section 125 cafeteria plan as listed. 14. Extraordinary uh unidentified service EU. That's almost like a UFO. PCNL insurance broker as listed. 15. Extraordinary identifiable services health insurer insurance broker as listed. And we'll
020go with the finance facilities transportation. >> Hold on that for a second. >> Um, do we have a second on one through 15? >> Second. >> Sorry. >> Thank you. Are there any questions on anything from 1 to 15 from anyone? We're going to vote on this section by a roll call. No questions. Okay. Uh, Mrs. Brand, >> yes. >> Dr. Casey, >> yes. >> M. Crosby, >> yes. >> Mr. Rojo, >> yes. >> Mr. Spieler, >> yes. >> M. O Sullivan, >> yes. >> Mr. Amaroso? >> Yes. >> You may continue, Mr. Chairman. >> All right. We'd like to do I. Finance, Facilities, Transportation Committee. Committee members I did already. Two, committee meeting we did already. Three, um, Secretary Treasures report as listed. Um, bills and claims. I think Mike, you did the bills.
021>> I did the bills. Yeah. >> Thank you very much. Um, grand total is 5,216,840.88. Five, travel and related expenses are listed. Six, transfers as listed. Seven out of district contracts as listed. Eight, out of district uh transportation contracts, M OEC as listed. Nine, contracts with core BTS as listed. 10, consultant as listed. 11, specialized evaluation and services as listed. 12. focus grant as listed. 13. Chant services agreement for special law enforcement officers classes two and three as listed. 14. YMCA memorandum of understanding 2026 to 2027 as listed. 15. Transportation jointure update as listed. That's about it. >> Okay. Thank you. Uh do we have a second? questions for finance facilities. Anybody? That was rather lengthy. I'm tired. Seeing none, all those in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Any abstensions? Okay. Uh,
022old business. Do we have any old business? Oh, new business. None. Okay. And then we'll go into president's remarks and I'll bring up some items here. Um I just pulled the report from school boards. There's three board members that have not completed the superintendent evaluation. Carmela, are you almost done? Will you have it done by tomorrow? You think? Okay. Todd, >> I already finished. >> You did? >> Two hours. >> Okay. Okay. Good. Good man. And I have to call Peter. Uh he's not here. Um so then I just have to make one phone call and then I'd like to get that um to the um county tomorrow if I can by the end of the day and then they'll compile and then I'll give you a schedule. We're almost there. Okay. The second thing
023was the retreat. Um some of the responses have been rolling in tepidly. Um we're looking at August 5th. So far it seems like a good date. So, I'm going to still keep it out there. If you guys could check your calendars and let me know so we can start making plans. Um, we I mean there's a slight possibility we might have to move it, but I'm going to for right now that date looks good. Um, I know that's a busy month for a lot of people and there's college moveins and things going on and there's dates that I don't even know at my own family, but so far that seems okay. I will send out more information if that changes. items are looking at like a five. Do we start? >> We usually start about
0245 and then we usually have food until we haven't really planned. Typically, we'll have food maybe till like six and then we'll actually start the session. >> Something like that. But we have to The other thing is um I'm sure Neil agrees that we always like feedback. Like if if there are topics that you want to bring up that interest you, now is the time. So if there's something that you want to talk about, send me an email. we'll get it on the agenda and if it involves me getting you any information or background information, I can do that as well. So, just let me know if there's something that interests you and then I'm sure we could discuss a theme um of something some type of we usually come up with something uh type
025of training even. So, we'll work on that. Trying to think if there's anything else. Uh don't think so. I think that was everything on my list. So, this would be the second time for public participation. I don't know that um have anybody here that even wants to >> Okay, thank you. I can barely see you over the podium. >> That works. Okay. Well, I think then we're going to have to move into our executive session. I'm going have to read this statement for the record. Whereas pursuant to NJSA 104-12B, the board of education may exclude the public from that portion of a public meeting at which the board discusses any of the matters described at NJSA 104-12B1-9. Now therefore be it resolved that in accordance with the provisions of the open public meeting act, the
026board of education shall conduct a close session pursuant to the personnel and legal exceptions prescribed by NJSA 104-12 for the purpose of discussing the following matters. A personnel matter, a construction claim, a TWWU contract. It is anticipated that the length of time of this executive session will be 50 minutes and that action will be taken in public after the executive session. Be it further resolved that said discussion may be disclosed to the public when reasons for discussing and acting upon it in closed session no longer exist. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> All those in favor say I. >> I. All right.