001I'd like to call this meeting to order. The mission of the Freel 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 Freel township schools on the entrance door to the administrative offices of the board of education on the district website at the office of the Freel Township Clerk and published in the Asbury Park Press on January 11th, 2026. Please join me for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> I get a roll
002call. Mr. Dvita, >> Mrs. Brand, >> Dr. Casey here. >> Mr. Confory >> here. >> Miss Crosby here. >> Mr. Ro >> here. >> Mrs. Lambert >> here. >> Mrs. Spieler >> here. >> Mrs. O Sullivan >> present. >> Mr. Morroso >> here. We have >> a quorum. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Can I get a motion for the approval of the December 16th regular meeting minutes? >> And a second. >> Second. >> Okay. All those in favor say I. >> Any opposed? One abstension. >> Thank you. >> Can I get a motion for the approval of the January 6th reorganization meeting minutes >> and a second? Second. >> All those in favor say I. I. >> Any opposed? Okay, thank you. Uh, communications. >> Uh, the only communication with this evening is enrollment. Uh,
003in November of 2025, we had 3,344 students. In December of 25, we had 3,343. And in December of 24, we had 3,417. That is it for this evening. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Uh, president's remarks. I'll be brief because we have an awful lot of stuff on this agenda to move through, but I do want to thank our staff for um everything going so smoothly today. From what I heard, um it was a smooth opening. And I want to thank um Bob's team and uh all the snow removal and the preparation that took place. This doesn't happen by accident. Um, we get phone calls and Bob does a lot of planning on having the plows, you know, go home to the people that need them so they can get themselves out of their own driveways
004before they can get here to clear our lots. So, there is a lot that goes behind making sure the schools get open. So, we want to thank everybody for that and all the hard work. >> The guys came in, worked probably a full day on Sunday and they probably worked a full day yesterday. uh custodians, grounds, property service team members, and uh yesterday the transportation people came in because they had to go do their part. Once the lot was clean, they came. So, uh it's good team effort and you know, people stepped up which was good to see. >> I was telling Neil um when it was snowing in blizzard-like conditions Sunday night, I went to pick my wife up at Cent State and I was driving past Barcelo and the lots were already plowed
005even in the middle of the storm. I was like, "Wow, maybe we'll open on Monday." And they wishful thinking. >> Well, they knew that if they didn't stay ahead of it. >> I know. I know. I couldn't believe it because it was really like >> it was amazing. >> There's only a certain height of snow we could push and then we're re relying on the township and then we get done last at that point. So, >> they did a great job. Um, you know, >> well, thank you. It >> was good team effort from all. Listen, they did all the work. So, >> all right. Um, administrative report. >> Sure. So before I get into my report, as many of you know, January, February, sorry, no, January, January is uh board appreciation month. Um I
006really tried. Bob did approve the 20% pay increase for your role as board members. As you know, >> 20% time zero yields zero. >> But you're well worth um the appreciation that we have for this board. Um, we are very lucky to have a board who is supportive. And when I say supportive, I don't mean that just supports our decisions, but also supports the thought process behind those decisions. We get a great deal of input, a great deal of questions before final decisions are made to consider. um when we need the support and we need the guidance, each board member makes themsel available to us, whether they're at work, whether they're driving home from work, um whether they have a school building that has no cell phone service. She Carmemella found a way to get
007to us before we needed her uh when we needed her. Um we are lucky to have a board that is supportive not only of administration, but also of our community, of our students, of our staff. Um and you just don't find that everywhere. I feel like our our board is very um even in their thinking and at the end of the day each and every board member that we have here is makes their decisions and dedicates their time in the name of our students and um on behalf of our students and our staff um I'd like to extend my appreciation and the appreciation of central office. Um we are not allowed to purchase gifts. We are allowed to purchase office supplies. So, for our board, in honor of your um board appreciation month, each of
008you will be receiving this um modern portfolio. It actually holds um phone uh cell phone charging um cases um cell phones. So, >> Thank you. Um so also this evening um again I am uh expressing my appreciation on behalf of our students and our our staff but um we did have requests from members of our different units to address the board directly and their appreciation. I'd like to invite up Joel Nappy, one of our co-presidents of the FTEA. So Laura couldn't be here tonight with me, but the Free Township of Education Association and all the members who represent, we would like to thank you for your service. Um, as a former board member, I'm well aware of the time and the commitment that you put in. Often a thankless job and time consuming and difficult
009work. Um, so we just want to thank you for your service and your commitment to Sher Township Schools and we look forward to working with its new board um to continue to make great strides in Fre. So, thank you for your service and congratulations on your new portfolio. >> And next, I'd like to invite up Brad Milloway. He's representing the Freel Township Administrators Association. school. Good. Thanks. Um and president of the Freehold Township Administrators Association. Some of our administrators are here with me tonight. Um it's my pleasure to be here on behalf of the FTA to say a few words about our board of education members um during board recognition month. So on behalf of my colleagues, I want to thank all of you for your unwavering commitment to our district. I want to thank
010you all for your um leadership, your thoughtful decision-making, and your countless hours of service to help ensure that uh our students and staff are successful. As all of you all know, um serving on a board of education requires countless hours, sacrifice, and deep dedication to public service. We're grateful for the care, the professionalism, and the integrity that you bring to this role, often behind the scenes and always with students at the center of your decision-making. We hope you know that uh how much we appreciate your hard work and your dedication. Your service truly makes a difference and we're thankful for your continued support and your leadership. In recognition of each of of you, the FDA is donating a copy of one of your favorite child uh hood books and I think only three of you
011filled out our survey. So, if you get a minute, can you fill that out for us? We have a few here tonight, but um when you fill those out, we're going to dedicate one to the schools in uh libraries in the different schools. And we also have a small token of appreciation to go along with the book donations that we'll hope you enjoy. So, thank you again for all you do and congratulations on board recognition month. Thank you. Thank you. Uh for administrative report, um now that all of our schools, I believe, have announced the one district, one book initiative, I can share with you. Um this year's book is The Lemonade War, ECLC, rather than participating with the same book, is doing a book of of the same theme and um idea in their
012school as well, and they kicked it off today. So, I'll pass these around. These are your copies. Great. >> Thank you. >> For those of you that are not familiar, one district, one book, we have a group of staff members, administrators across uh our five elementary schools and ECLC who work together to plan activities for all of the schools um in um support of the book. So um there'll be activities. We will do our best to keep you updated on what's happening each of the schools and invite you when appropriate to participate in those activities. Um, a lot of schools will be doing something typically in the um, winter or spring for reading night um, connected to this book. So, uh, we'll keep you updated. Um, each year the Mammoth County School Boards Association hosts
013an eighth grade dialogue. They invite all school districts, each school, each middle school to send a representative of 8th grade to participate in the dialogue. Each of our middle schools, Barklo and Eisenhower, will be represented with an eighth grade student. That uh Mammoth County School Board's meeting will be held on March 10th at 6 p.m. Wolf Hill Elementary School in Oceanport. Um, as shared in the email that I had sent to staff and the letter to parents, our district, based on the emergency closing day that we had on Monday, our district will now be open for an early dismissal day on February 16th, 2026. Uh, in my letter, I had explained to the community the rationale behind why we're doing this. So in a referendum year um and this is not only for this school
014year, it will continue for the next two school years. We need to maximize the time basically of summer without staff and students present with the exception of ESY. Um so that a bulk of the work can be done in this summer would be a lot of demolition work. So when we have the last day, we need a hard stop on that last day. Luckily, for next school year, there was some discussion of starting later, and our architects uh communicated that they didn't think that was necessary. So, um to be safe, if the snow day, which was in our board approved calendar, happened before President's Day, President's Day was designated as the first emergency closing day. If we use another emergency closing day, the next makeup day is June 19th. Um then we don't go past
015June 19th. That's a Friday. we'd have to back. I believe next is taking off of spring break if I'm not mistaken. >> Days off of spring break. >> So um hopefully we won't get to that place, but um in years of I don't think we have dealt with significant weather in years that's actually required us to do that. Once the referendum concludes, we'll go back to building snow days into our calendar so it's more predictable and then give back the days um when we don't use them. Um, we did make an early dismissal day um to ease the burden on our staff who may have um children at home that they need to care for and for our students who have families that may be off. Um, similarly, a question came in. I just want
016to share for the public. Um, Mike answered a question from a community member on why we use two hours as our uh delayed opening time when there's some surrounding districts that use 90 minutes. We use two hours because there's a requirement for a school day to count in New Jersey as one of the mandated 180 days. There must be four hours of instructional time. That is outside of basically the school day without lunch. In order to have our students in for four hours of instructional time and to meet the requirements of our contract with our teachers, it is a 2hour delayed opening to get those four hours in. Also, um, a lot of the times our maintenance staff is working up until the arrival time to get the parking lots and the sidewalks to a
017place that our staff members and students are safe coming in. So, we feel that it's most appropriate to take advantage of the most time possible to get our schools ready and that's why we use the two hours. I want to share that the Freel Township Education Foundation has one fundraiser annually and that's the Harlem Wizards game. The Harlem Wizards is the Harlem Wizards versus the Freel Township Flames. Flames are representate represented by staff and administrators across the district. Um, this event is really contingent upon volunteers on a Friday night. And again, every year it really warms my heart to know that our staff and administrators consistently support this event. We have 63 staff members and administrators already who have volunteered to participate. And that's knowing that we have one school that has a PTO conflict
018that was unable to be changed. They tried but just couldn't based upon a contract they had with um with a a catering hall for their event. So even with that um 63 staff members um willing to participate. So that is on March 20th. Tickets are on sale now. Our elementary schools will be hosting assemblies for the students on February 9th. Um if you can um attend or better yet if you'd like to volunteer um you can as well as board members. So March 20th at Boel Township High School. Tickets are on sale now. And finally, um I'd like to thank our maintenance staff, our custodial staff, our transportation staff for their work throughout Sunday, um and Monday and this morning and to get our staff um and our students into school safely and to have
019our facilities in shape so that um we can open this morning. There are some places that are unable to open because of the inability to keep up with the storm and um because our maintenance staff under leadership of Nick, Steve, and Jack um came in and got that started in the middle of the storm as Mike shared. So, um thank you to all of those people who put in their time in the middle of a storm and had to drive here in the storm um to get our schools ready. I think that's everything. Yep. Uh since our last meeting which was uh December 12th, we've had 11 reports of harassment, intimidation, and bullying. Out of those 11 reports, seven were founded and four were unfounded. certification. I, Robert Dvita, school business administrator/board secretary, certifies that
020as of December 31st, 2025, no line item has been overextended in violation of NJAC 6A23-1610C3. That sufficient funds are available to meet the district's financial obligations for the remainder of the year. That's it. >> Thank you. This is the first opportunity for public participation. Do we have anybody that's going to come to the podium? >> Okay, seeing none, then I will just move on to personnel policy and communications. Uh, Mrs. Crosby, >> good evening everybody. Can you hear me through? That's okay. Um, we did uh meet as a personnel policy and communications committee this evening. In attendance were myself, Michelle Lambert, Elanora Sullivan, and Mr. Dickstein. Um, throughout our meeting, we discussed um, excuse me, all agenda items and policies that will be um, on our next agenda. Bear with me as I go through
021these. There are quite a few items. Um, I'd like to move the following. Three, second reading of policies and regulations. for retirement. Uh we'd like to congratulate the following retirees. Um George Abate with 39 years, Rita Bowinger with 20 years, Sher Dafano with 28 years, Frank Vavale with eight years, Thomas Kale with 25 years, Kathleen Nord with 25 years, and Lois Trent with 25 years. Um number five, resignation as listed. Number six, rescend offer of employment as listed. Number seven, new employment. We'd like to welcome all of our new staff to the district. Um, number eight, establish start date. Number nine, termination of employment as listed. 10, position control as listed. Number 11, extend long-term assignment as listed. 12, long-term substitute assignment as listed. 13. Transfer of assignment as listed. 14. Change of assignment salary
022adjustment as listed. 15. Temporary change of assignment or salary adjustment as listed. 16. Salary adjustments lunchroom assist assist assistance as listed. 17. Leaves of absence as listed. 18. Revised leave of absence as listed. 19. Stipened teacher assistance as listed. A long list number 20, additional compensation driver training as listed. 21. Additional compensation safety care training as listed. 22. District honorarium update as listed. 23. District honorary as listed. 24. PTO honorary as listed. 25. Unpaid days as listed. 26. District mentors as listed. 27. Affirm bullying investigation findings as listed. 28. Student teacher practicum observation placement as listed. 29. Curriculum committees as listed. Number 30. Certified substitutes as listed. 31. Non-certified substitutes as listed. And number 32 2026 2027 school calendar as listed. >> Thank you. Do we have a second? >> Second. >> Do we have
023any um questions for uh personnel policy communications committee? >> Seeing none. Can I get a roll call? >> Mrs. Brand? >> Yes. >> Dr. Casey? >> Mr. Conford? >> Yes. >> Miss Crosby? >> Yes. >> Mr. Ro? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Lambert? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Spieler? >> Yes. >> Mrs. O Sullivan? >> Yes. >> Mr. Amaroso? >> Yes. >> Carries. >> Thank you. curriculum committee. Uh Dr. Casey. >> So the curriculum committee did meet today. Uh in attendance were Mr. Confory, Mrs. Spieler, Mrs. Montgomery, and yours truly. Uh we welcome the new committee. Uh we discussed the norms and procedures involved in this committee. Uh Mrs. Montgomery illuminated us on the importance of instructional coaches. Uh we discussed the adoption of the Wilson foundations for grade three and we reviewed an envision proposal for
0242026. And I would like to move number three, home instruction as listed, number four, course reimbursement as listed, and number five, adoption of Wilson language foundations for grade three as listed. >> Thank you. Do we have a second? Any questions for curriculum? Okay. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Any oppose? Any abstensions? Not. Finance, facilities, and transportation. Mr. Gulu. Good evening. The finance, facilities, and transportation committee met. In attendance was myself, uh Mrs. uh Brand of Mike Emoroso and of course Bob DeVito. Um we did meet today and we discussed the referend referendum. Um one of the items was the uh planning board. Uh it we have to go to the planning board on 25 February 5th to discuss the four additions at ECLC uh JJC C and Wes. We also discussed
025West Freehold uh HVAC uh issue. We reviewed the budget a little bit. Uh we discussed our audit uh uh procedure, no issues. And we also talked about the finance committee goal which we will be working on shortly. I'd like to move the following items. Um secretary treasurer's report as listed. Bills and claims. Thank you Dr. Casey for doing the bills as listed. It was Bill's grand total was 11,882,468.39. We had travel and related expenses as listed. We had transfers as listed. Seven is PTO honor area as listed. Eight, PTO honoraria update with Dwight Eisenhower Middle School as listed. Nine, out of district contracts is listed. 10 out of district transportation contracts M O E S as listed. 11. 2026 extended uh school year program as listed. 12. Disposals as listed. 13. Disposal of uh disposal
026of surplus property HC as listed. 14. Disposal of surplus property. gov deals as listed. 15 um FY2026 EA grant update as listed. 16 audited tuition under charge 2425S as listed. 17. Specialized evaluations and services as listed. 18. Renewal of of memorandum of agreement. Prevention first is listed. Tuition contract 19. The tuition contracts for received students is listed. 20. Acceptance of the 20 24 20 25 annual comprehensive financial report. The ACFR as listed. And I think uh that rounds it out. >> Excellent. Do we have a second? >> Second. >> Do we have questions for finance facilities? >> Okay. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Any abstensions? Okay. Seeing none. This is the second opportunity for public participation. I'm not sure. Uh is anybody going to raise their hand if they
027want to participate? Otherwise, I won't read the statement. Okay. No public participants. Um, let me see. Are we going to do executive session and then this or should I just do your stuff first? >> I'm going to do this first. Okay. >> I think the page flipped. >> Oh, the page flip. Okay. Excellent. All right. So, old business. The only thing I have on old business. Um, everyone should have received your um schedule for when you're going to uh review the bills. Did everybody get that email? >> Yes. >> Okay. Excellent. Um, and in general, if I could just put out a friendly reminder to try to check your emails at least once a day, twice a day would be good. Maybe one in the morning, one in the afternoon. Um, I did the best
028I could with the very minimal feedback I got on the committees. So, I created the two committees for our um our um administrators contract and for the um transport workers union contract. So, those committees are in place. I've sent an email out about that. Um, that was the only old business I had. Does anybody else have any old business? Okay, new business. Um, I did want to mention I mentioned Mr. Dixon by phone this morning. There is a Mammoth County um, SBA virtual meeting. It's a conversation with Senator Gopal and Senator Ocanlin. It's on February 3rd at 6:45. any um school board um association member, which is all of you, get a free $40 admission. It's a webinar. So, if anybody wants to call in, you should see this in your email. So, if you
029want um basically I think it's important for I'm going to definitely attend. I think Neil's going to attend. Um >> I can forward the email if it's if you don't. >> Yeah. They're going to share updates on current education policy, impactful legislation, other key issues shaping New Jersey public schools. The session is going to provide valuable insight into statewide initiatives and legislative priorities affecting local districts. That's very applicable to us. So I would recommend if anyone has the time >> to log in registrants >> I don't know >> that evening but I would like >> let me see it doesn't say I have the email in front of me but it doesn't say but we can find out. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. >> Sure. >> Okay. Uh is there any other new uh new
030business? Okay. Um, I really don't have any other president's remarks um before we go into our executive session. Um, so other than to say thank you very much to the public and to um our administrators and our union and to um everyone for all these nice gifts we got. I wish every day was word appreciation month. And I tried to I saw the large print and I got all excited so I took my glasses off >> and I still can't read it. That's large. I have learned from books. >> I can I can read the title. So anyway, my eyesight will never be getting better. I see. So with that, we're going to move into an executive session. So whereas pursuant to NJSA 10 col4-12B the board of education may exclude the public from that
031portion 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 board of education shall conduct a closed session pursuant to the personnel and legal exceptions prescribed by NJSA104-12 for the purpose of discussing the following matters pending or anticipated contract negotiations FTA contract TWWU contract it is anticipated that the length of time of this executive session will be 30 minutes and that action will not 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
032I. >> I. >> Okay. Thank you very much everyone for coming out. >> Thank you again.