001Can everybody hear me in the back? Okay, excellent. I'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 free old 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 published in the Asbury Park Press on January 11th, 2025 and sent to the Star Ledger on January 8th, 2025. Please join me for the pledge of allegiance. I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the
002republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Can I get a roll call? Mr. Dvita. >> Mrs. Brand. >> Dr. Casey >> here. >> Miss Crosby here. >> Mr. Gulo here. >> Mrs. Lambert here. Mrs. Feler. Mr. Williams here. M Sullivan present. Mr. >> Amarosa here. Thank you. >> Can I get a motion for the approval of the November 18th, 2025 regular meeting minutes? Motion. >> I have a second. All those in favor say I. >> Any opposed? Any abstensions or absences? >> We roll here last. >> We roll here. >> Okay. Excellent. Okay. Then we'll move right into communications. >> Uh the only communication we have is enrollment. Uh as of October of 25, we had 3,353 students. November of 25, we had 3344. And
003if you compare that to last November, we had 3,420. And that is all. >> Excellent. President's remarks. I'll be brief. Tonight, we have the Barcalo cross country here. We're going to be giving out some awards. We're all excited to see everybody here tonight. And um just some words on behalf of the board of ed real quick. We wish you all a happy holiday season and also to the administration from the board of ed. We wish everyone a wonderful holiday season. and we'll have more to say in my second remarks. But with that, we're going to move right into the administrative report. >> Yep. >> We're going to get started so our kids can get home and uh do their homework. So, we will um start with our recognition. Uh we'll there cross country. >> So,
004uh, to present those, I think it's appropriate to bring up our head coach, Mrs. West, assistant coaches, Mr. Samonte and Mr. Benjamin, and our administrators from Barcela, Dr. Jurus and Mrs. Layman. Sorry. Okay. Good evening. Um, as a language arts teacher, I'm a sucker for a good metaphor. And so, I always loved that distance running was such a perfect metaphor for life. Um, much like life, you get out of it what you put into it. Um, you can have days where you feel so amazing and you can run forever and it feels effortless and there are many days where it takes all of your energy just to put one foot in front of the other. Um, you face a lot of adversity. Um, you have some hills to climb. Um, you got in injuries and
005setbacks and it it makes you want to give up. But if you keep persevering, you'll find that will make you even stronger and wiser as a runner. You may also feel like it's you against everyone else and the clock. Um, but when you find that you run with your pack, you will feel much better and you'll do much better. So, I congratulate the boys Barlo um cross country team for just exemplifying all of those amazing qualities this season. We had most likely the most talented team we've ever had. Um, and I don't say that lightly, but I think we did. Um, and they were just not resting on their laurels that they were good athletes. They came every day working their hardest to do their best. Um, also when you have such incredible athletes, they
006might want to compete against each other and just care about their own times, but this team really worked together. They pushed each other to do their very best and um, they were just a pleasure to coach. They had fun even though they worked really hard. Um, and I give all the parents so much credit for just raising such fine young men. Um, we just really enjoyed having them this season. Um, we dominated this year. Um, the talent was so deep that we didn't even have to stress out if somebody was out sick because we knew three other boys would step up and do what we needed for the team. Um we beat every team in our division by at least 20 points. We had quite a few shutouts. Um there, you know, each team could
007maybe get one, maybe get two in our top 10. Um and otherwise it was a sea of beautiful blue. Uh so it was wonderful to watch and uh the championship was the same story. Um we ran against 26 teams in our league. We had 152 of the best runners in Mammoth County running and we had our top five in the top 12. So that was a score of 36. That's the best score we've ever had. Um and it was again beautiful to see. So I want to call those championship runners up first. I want to talk about them a little bit. You guys can come on up. Come on up. So because we had such a deep team, it was very difficult to choose who was going to the championship. Um we probably could have
008brought, you know, our top 20 and they would have competed really well at the championship. Um we did bring two alternates. Um so uh Drew Smith, where is he? right right next to me. Um a phenomenal runner within our tub um every race and uh he's you know only a seventh grader so we look forward to seeing what he'll do next year. Um and also Henry Calder who is our co- captain. Um he was a great leader for our team and just a wonderful athlete for us for the last three years. We're really going to miss him and all he's done for the team. So, thank you, Henry. Um, and we also had um our top runner, Justice Flores, um who came in this year for his first year um as a seventh grader. Um
009he and Graden went to the um our first meet at Wall and they beat their course record. Um so, phenomenal runner um a lot of promise and unfortunately he got injured. talking about that um those setbacks that we have to deal with sometimes. Um but I know he's going to come back even stronger and I look forward to seeing what he can do and uh you know we thank him for all his dedication. Justice. All right. And now we have our competitors at the championship. We had Vincent Mimone who a seventh grader um just really cares about how he does every time. Very passionate and uh he was able to come in 19th place. Um he did a great job. Good job. >> All right. And then we have another fabulous seventh grader who um
010has done a great job these last two years and I think um he's really grown as a runner this year. Um, I look forward to seeing what he'll do next year. Uh, he came in 12th place overall, Ryan Gordon. All right. Then we had our co- captain, Austin Sweeney, who we are really going to miss him. Um, what a great leader and just brought the fun, but brought the hard work. And um you know, as you can see, the team really looks up to him. Um but he was able to come in 11th place at the championship. All right. Then we have a sixth grader who um I mean, I don't know if he even gets tired. He's just always smiling. He looks effortless. Um, and he was able to come in eighth place as
011a sixth grader. Travis Mio. All right. Here was a big surprise for us. Um, so you know, last year he saw he sat in my sixth grade class and like, what are you doing in the fall? And he's like, I don't know. So he came out for cross country and wow, what um, you know, a force. He just kept improving each time. Um, and when he came running into the finish, third place, we were like, what? Oh my gosh. Brett Sant. And this last runner, um, he's just been, um, our top runner the last few years that we can count on. Um, just knows so much about running. comes from a strong running family and he's so um dedicated. He always brings his very best. Um so proud of all of his accomplishments and how
012he just he's just the epitome of hard work and and paying off and I can't wait to see what you do next year. Great Splitinsky. Oh, he came in second place. Second place and seventh grader. So, you might have heard that there are only two of these guys who are eighth graders and are unfortunately leaving us. Um, but we have a really strong team. And, um, let's call up the other runners up here. Come on down. I want to thank all of them for their hard work. Um, I want to thank the parents and the families for all of your support and for just encouraging them um and encouraging us. Um, we thank the administration and the board of education for all of their support and for um, honoring all these amazing athletes tonight. Um,
013I especially want to thank my assistant coaches, Mr. Benjaminino, who is also our athletic director and um was instrumental in getting us to practice at the park every day cuz that has been a huge benefit for us to train on our course. Um and for all of his help and support with all the runners um and Mr. Monty, of course, his passion and wisdom, um, his knowledge about the sport and how he can encourage each of the runners and run everywhere that they're racing at the same time and and yell out their splits. I don't know how he does it. He might be a triplet. Yeah, I don't know. That might be a secret. But, um, I thank him for all of his hard work. Um, and I just encourage you guys to take those
014lessons um that you learned in running, apply them in every aspect of your life. Uh, especially our eighth graders who are leaving us, we're going to miss you. Um, but remember in all things, you are a champion. So, congratulations on amazing season. Thank you. Happy holidays. And we'll Yes, we'll take pictures. Thanks. There you go. I just want to say I always joke, it's not a joke, I should be more in shape, but I always say if you ever see me running, you need to be running too. There's something wrong. That's the only time I run. No. Um I do want to say thank you to the parents um standing out there waiting for the meets to end, coming back and forth. We do a lot of focusing on academics, right? looking at the performance
015of our students in reading and math, but we have to also celebrate the accomplishments of a group like this who have not only endured um a season and have been so successful at it, but their dedication to running in cross country and to their school. So, let's give them another round of applause. Now, we can take our picture. >> No, I don't get the picture. Thank you. She got her dream. She got her dream. We're going to take a 10-minute recess so you guys can go home. Why didn't you report me to say anything about my only time? Right. >> I can set your sheriff say yours till the end. No other opportunity. >> Um how about when I do mine I'll let you start when I do my I'll give you the floor. >>
016Okay. Okay. So not um bullying investigation report. >> Yep. >> Since our last meeting, we had nine report uh nine investigations of harassment, intimidation, and bullying. Out of those nine, eight were confirmed and one was unfounded. We also have um our district and Laura Bishop in collaboration were recognized by the New Jersey School Public Relations Association, a 2025 school communication award winner. uh an award of merit for the referendum website. I put that out in the um lobby in the display case. Uh also on behalf of my central office colleagues and administrators, I'd like to wish all of our staff, our parents, our families, community members, and of course our students a very restful and enjoyable long winter break. It's a week and a half this year. Um, happy holidays and um, express again our
017appreciation for all the support um, that we have as an administration and a board. So, thank you and enjoy the holiday season. >> Thank you. >> Um, certification. >> Y, >> no one wants to hear me. you. It's I, Robert Dvidita, the school business administrator/board secretary certifies that as of November 30th, 2025. No line item has been overextended in violation of NJAC6A23A-1610C3 and that sufficient funds are available to meet the district's financial obligations for the remainder of the fiscal year. And the next one is uh mine as well. So, I had sent out to everyone a few weeks ago a copy of the draft uh board calendar for next year. And I just want to see I know Mr. Garula got back to me. I talked to Mr. Amaroso. Does anyone have any issues with
018the calendar that we're going to put into the reorganization agenda for January 6th? Okay. And just remember, we do have reorg January 6, 7 o'clock. It's typically about a half hour meeting and then we'll go home. All right. Enjoy your holidays everyone. >> Thank you. Okay. Uh, public participation. Before I read this, is anyone going to approach the mic? Okay, we have no takers. Then I'm going to move on to personnel policy and communications. So, um, >> Dr. Casey, would you like to do it? Thank you. >> Uh, the personnel policy and communications committee did not meet today. Therefore, I'd like to move the following. First reading of policies and regulations as listed. Second reading of policies and regulation as listed. Retirement as listed. Resignation as listed. Adjust resignation date as listed. New employment as
019listed. Establish start date as listed. Position control as listed. Leave of absence as listed. Salary adjustment as listed. Change of assignment. Salary adjustment as listed. Temporary change of assignment. Salary adjustment as listed. Change of assignment as listed. Affirm bullying investigation findings as listed. Student teacher practicum observation placement as listed. Student teacher practicum observation placement update as listed. Unpaid days as listed. District mentor as listed. PTO honoraria as listed. District honoraria update as listed. Additional compensation bilingual evaluations as listed. Additional compensation driver training as listed. Curriculum committee as listed. Curriculum committee update as listed. Family community liaison as listed. Revised substitute rates of pay as listed. Certified substitutes as listed. That's curriculum. >> Oh, and non-certified substitutes as listed >> away. Do we have a second on that motion? >> Do we have uh any questions
020for uh personnel policy communications? >> Why is somebody high? >> This Mrs. Lambert, you have a question? >> Because I think they were just added today. That's why. >> I thought so. Yep. Okay. >> Yeah, I think they're they're all substitutes. I think that were added today. >> Okay. Okay. >> And there might have been an account number for somebody uh who was a new hire that was added. >> Okay. >> All right. Any other questions? >> Roll call. >> Mrs. Brand? >> Yes. >> Dr. Casey? Yes. >> Miss Crosby. >> Mr. Ojulo? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Lambert? >> Yes. >> Mr. Williams? >> Yes. >> M Sullivan? >> Yes. >> Mr. Amaroso? >> Yes. >> Motion carries. >> Thank you. A curriculum committee. Mrs. Brandt. >> Yes. Good evening. The curriculum committee did meet
021this evening. In attendance were Mrs. Osullivan, Mrs. Miss Crosby, myself, and Mrs. Montgomery. We reviewed the items on the agenda and we discussed the board goals and uh our actions forthcoming from there. I'd like to move the following. Number three, home instruction as listed. Number four, for a course reimbursement as listed. Number five, 2025 2026 field trip list update as listed. That's it. Any questions? >> I am a little curious. >> I I knew that was coming. I did share with my committee that no in fact we are not sending students for spa treatments. >> But um yes there no there are a group of students from Barcelo and Eisenhower yeah peer leaders that have been invited to attend a statewide conference and it's being hosted at the Ocean Place. >> Okay. >> Yes. >>
022Okay. Do we have a second on that motion? >> Do we have any other questions on curriculum? >> Seeing none, seeing none. All those in favor say I. I. >> Any opposed or abstain? >> Thank you. Finance, facilities, transportation. Mrs. Lambert. Um >> the finance facilities and transportation committee did meet this evening and attendance was myself, Mr. Amaroso, Mr. Gardulo, Mr. Dvita and Miss Williams. Um we discussed the construction update and uh the current status. All the documents were sent to uh the DOE and uh we're waiting on those documents back. We're still on target to go out for bid in February. And um at that point in time, we will have a building by building timeline of what the construction should look like per month, start date, completion date in those buildings. And we
023are go we will share that at that time. It's not complete yet. And we will also share it with the public. We're trying to figure out what the best way possible is, whether it should be on each school's website page or correspondence that'll go out by the principal of each building. Um, they're still figuring out the logistics like where the main offices will be moved to while the construction is being >> uh done and and stuff like that. So we are on target for a February update because all our documents have been submitted to the appropriate uh governmental authorities and by then we should have a set timeline um and >> we've discussed the upcoming budget and uh what that would >> the preliminary numbers that are starting to come in with regard to healthcare
024and some other things. Bob will have more information on that shortly. I don't know. There's not much more to say on that until we have firmer numbers. Uh we do not have an audit on the agenda tonight because of the government shutdown. We were waiting for data that has to be included in our audit and the federal government has not provided that data yet. So, you'll probably see the audit in January's agenda. And we discussed agenda items. Um, with that, I'd like to move the following items. Um, item three, secretary and treasurer's report. Item four, bills and claims in the amount of 6,530,764.65, approved by >> Crosby. >> Miss Crosby. Item four, travel and related expenses, transfers as listed in item number six. PTO honoraria and honoraria update as listed in items seven and eight.
025So with that, we'd like to thank uh the Eisenhower school PTO for the donations uh that allow for those honoraria. Item nine, IDEIDA basic and preschool fiscal year 2026 grant 10 out of district contracts. And that looks like it. >> Thanks. Do we have a second? >> Do we have questions uh for Michelle or Bob on finance? >> I have my own question. Um I had asked about it in our committee. Can you elaborate more on what the teacher clarity playbook is? >> Uh sure. It's a conference uh that's hosted annually. Um uh is the publisher that's hosting it. Um, Nancy Frey and >> sorry um Nancy Frey and his first name is escaping me Fry um who are um very well published ED researchers um are the keynote presenters for the conference. It is
026a conference intended to support um educational leaders helping teachers find focus and clarity around the things that are most important in instruction. So it's designed for instructional leaders. Um happens to be hosted in San Diego this year. >> Okay. Just I did look it up. I I just didn't understand what it meant. like you know >> it it covers um a broad range of instru. So like other national conferences um are often content specific like National Association of Math Instructors, National Association of Right. >> This seems very broad. >> It it is because it's designed to sort of be crosscontent and crosscurricular for people who are instructional leaders. >> Okay. I can certainly get you more information if you have >> No, that's fine. Okay. >> Okay. Do we have any other questions? Okay. All
027those in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed or abstensions? >> Okay. Thank you. Uh, old business. >> Yes, Jeff. >> Well, I guess I could start by saying I guess I'm old business. This is my >> No, that's not true. We're saving you for uh remarks, but you can you can preempt it up. >> I think it's better if we go first and talk about you. >> Yeah, >> we would have wrote the hell out of you before. >> I wouldn't have expected anything. So, >> all right. Do we have any other old business? >> All right. Any new business? >> Yeah. I'm going to give the old Yeah. Sure. >> Yeah. >> I always have backup of >> Oh, >> I still didn't get it. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Sorry. Give
028me a minute. >> As our board members know, and those that are in the audience at home, uh the board gets a significant salary increase from year to year. So over the course of three years that Jeff served on the board, his zero uh dollar salary increased exponentially to zero in year two and zero in year three. Um a board member a board member um is not compensated. It's a volunteer position elected by the community and Jeff has served on the board for three years. Um and we always take the time to express our appreciation for all that you've done. Um, if somebody asked me to uh say what stood out to me the most about Jeff, I think what I would share in his time on the board is his effort to be present
029at our functions in schools. Um, he always made an effort and I think at one point you asked other people to join you. Always makes an effort over the course of three years to be present at school events. He has an advantage as most board members did at some point when they had kids in the district of being at his own children's but beyond that also made an every effort to attend events outside of his children's schools and debrief when he came back and I know always our staff and administrators appreciate the presence of the board at those events. Um, the time that it takes to be a board member and to review agendas in advance and be prepared for the meetings is very timeconuming and Jeff always was well prepared and had questions which
030we always appreciate in advance of the meeting so that we can have conversation and discussion before we walked in the door. Um, I think you are always proud of representing the community at large. um always proud of your own children and the role that they play in our school district. Um one used to play, one does play now still while they're still here, their uh their role in our school district. Um >> Yep. Um so I just want to express on behalf of the my central office colleagues and our staff and our students, thank you for your three years of service. Thank you for your dedication. Thank you for being a very um um proud board member and very um I'll say comprehensive. So always looking at and getting educated on everything that you could
031um to be able to make informed decisions. Thank you. >> Okay. I also wanted to present this to you. We weren't sure what you liked, but everybody like everybody likes chocolate more than flowers. So, we thought you could enjoy these. >> Oh, absolutely. Thank you. Never go home with >> Thank you so much. >> Yes. And I also wanted to say on behalf of the board, um we know what it's like um to put yourself out there, you know what I mean? We have citizens and when somebody steps forward for a role, whatever that committee or role is in town, sometimes it's underappreciated and I think it's time to be recognized for your hard work and your dedication to the board. um you've put in a lot of effort and um it should shouldn't go
032um without recognition. And I think I also want to open the floor to my fellow colleagues. If anybody would like to say anything, please feel free. Now will be an opportunity to wish Jeff well. Um we want to start. >> Okay, >> Michelle. >> Um I would like to wish you well moving forward. Um the one thing that stands Oh, is this like a little bit of a roast? >> Yeah. The one thing that stood out to me the most was um you are unapologetically yourself regardless of who that might annoy and you are never softspoken and that's okay too because we hear you and we've heard you and I appreciated your truth to self. Good luck. >> Thank you. Anyone else? >> I mean, even if it's a little roasty. >> I'll take the
033cotton out of her hand now. No. >> To you. I would say I never apologize for being myself. >> Anybody else? Eleanor. >> Yes. It was an honor to to work with you for these last three years and um you gave such great entertainment to the board and uh you you did a good job. you you you put your heart and soul into your work and you really, you know, you fought the good fight for the kids. You know, you just made sure that the kids were always first and that's really the most important and thank you for that. >> Excellent. >> Any other thinkers? >> Yes. >> Well, Jeff, we started off together. We've had our differences, but we always respected each other. And I appreciate what you tried to do with the kids.
034And like Elena said, your heart was in the right place. Has always been in the right place. >> Always. Yes. Thank you. I appreciate it. >> And I thank you for that. >> Thank you. >> Excellent. >> I have one thing here to say. >> Good luck in your future endeavors. And remember, no more uh signs to put out. I put on my I put on my last long >> because I have to tell you people don't realize how involved that is. >> So, good luck. >> The morning after the I was off the day after the election, I drove and did the right thing, all my signs, and it was it was the best trip that I ever made to DPW to >> to unload them on DPW. as I've done in the past
035many many other times. So, but thank you everybody if I could. >> Absolutely. Yeah. >> Um I'll just >> Sorry. I didn't think you I thought session. Um >> here we go. No, I just want to say that having someone sit next to me who is funny is not great in a professional setting because you're just trying to save face. Um, but no, I mean, I think to have a parent in the district who like knows the ins and outs and is so involved to speak for and advocate for the students, um, just two of yours, you know, amongst so many. Um, but that's really important and like I think we just spoke about this in committee meeting too, right, is parents getting involved and maybe not as, you know, involved as a board member,
036which involves a lot of time and effort and energy, but to come and attend and to hear you know, what we're discussing in a meeting. So, um, I think obviously you're the top end of that, you know, being a parent and sitting at the table. So, you know, >> no, Todd is carries the carries that. >> Absolutely. >> Thank you. Again, you don't want to respond. >> No, I don't you don't need a mic, Chuck. >> Let's face it. >> Um, so, no, thank you. Thank you everybody for your kind words. And so I did prepare a couple things only because I there were things that I you know want points I wanted to touch on. First off that good evening everyone's here and happy holidays. Uh serving on this board of education for the
037last three years has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my long of my long career in public service. As my term and time on this board comes to an end, I can look back and be more than confident knowing that I served the residents of this town well and absolutely lived up to the oath that I took on in January of 2023. I don't have the exact date, but I knew it was Jan. I would like to congratulate Ronald Brian and Owen Sullivan on their reelection to the board. And I wish he was here uh to uh publicly even though I spoke to him the morning after the election to publicly congratulate and wish good luck to Peter Confori on his election to the board. I'll repeat what I said to to Peter
038uh the the morning after the election. And I said to Peter that I hope that he finds the Peter that was deflated after the board voted to abolish policy 5756 and not the one that took an took an endorsement from an extreme group looking to abolish public education. And I also reminded him that he is responsible for educating my most precious commodity along with 3,400 other of her classmates. And I said to him quite frankly, if you do not succeed in this role, the district will not res will not succeed. Uh during my last campaign, a singular phrase kept kept coming to my mind as as I was working the election. And and I and had I been reelected, I pledged to myself to be better for all of our students and teachers, to provide
039them with everything that they need to reach any and all goals that they have set out for themselves. After the election, it took a completely different meaning. And now I imploring this board to be better. Be better than some of our neighboring school districts that have been in the news for all the wrong reasons. Set an example for others to follow. Be better than trying to convince parents that they have no rights regarding their child's education. Parents, you have more rights than you know. Be better at holding administration. Sorry. be better at holding administration accountable. This at its core is why we were elected in the first place. Be better at recognizing that this is a public school system which is required to be a safe haven for our students regardless of their race, religion,
040or sexual orientation. And to the parents, be better at showing up for your kids. engage with the board of education members that you elected to represent you elected to represent you. Being on this board is a 12 month a year, 24 hours a day job. This is how I approach this position. Don't just engage them when they're asking you for your vote at election time. Like I said earlier, they are responsible for preparing your most precious commodity for successful future. And again, thank you to the residents of the Freedom Township of Freedom Township for entrusting me in this position for the last three years. Thank you. Okay. Thank you, Jeff. I'm going to ask again, do we have any public participants before I read my statement? Oh, we do. So, uh, this is the second
041opportunity for public participation. None. Um, my only remarks would be once again to wish everyone a happy holiday season to the administrators and everybody present. Enjoy the break. Um, and with that, I would like to ask for a motion for adjournment. >> Do I have a second? >> Second. >> All those in favor say I.