001mic. Mike's mic is on. Can you hear me? Goodbye. Okay. All right. I'm going to call this meeting back into order and we're going to resume uh the meeting. Yeah. Can I get a motion to the documented? All those in favor say I. I. September. Okay. Can I get a motion for the approval of the March 25th regular meeting minutes? A second. Second. All those in say I. I. Any opposed? Any extensions? Okay. Can I get a motion to approve the March 25th executive session minutes? Motion. Thank you. All those in favor say I. I [Music] thank you. Communications enrollment. February of 25 3,425 students. March 25, we were 3,422. Credit to March 24, we were 3,49. And that is all for communication. Thank you. Okay. the president's remarks. I mean, this crowd out here
002today, um, I don't know if anybody in my hallway wants to listen too, we could pop those doors open. Maybe people could hear. I'm not sure if the speaker system will allow it. But the first thing I wanted to do tonight, since so many of you come out tonight, I wanted to um dispel some rumors, especially with the people that are logging in. Um, but first, a little housekeeping about public meetings versus meetings held in public. I just want to remind everyone that this is a meeting held in the public. It is not a back and forth session, not a Q&A session. What we're going to do is we're going to have two opportunities for public participation. One in the beginning is um on agenda items only and then we have a second opportunity for
003public participation that has to do with anything pertaining to the district that you wish to speak about. Um and I want you to know that this board is listening very carefully to what everyone is saying. We don't always react here because we have a session and we talk as a group and we collaborate and we think about and discuss everything very carefully but it will be a one-on-one Q&A session. If something is asked very simply like is a bus at 10:00 or 10:05 you might answer that and say yes at 10:05. So very simple things we might respond to but we're not here to have a big Q&A session. um we're here to listen and um we do value everyone's input. That's the first thing. Second thing is I wanted to talk a little bit
004about funding because I saw a lot of things going um online a lot of room in those. I want to talk about the referendum that has just passed and that type of funding and then I want to talk about contract funding. So referendum they're for facilities. um this district um went out for a bond. We had several information sessions. One was in public, one we had live in public, one was online. Um and then it was put out to the voters if we have kinship and this was specifically for our aging infrastructure, um security upgrades, our roofs. Um there's a list online that you can go read about. I want people to understand that that money was approved by the voters of Philadelphia because of our buildings over 20 some odd years and that we
005have passed a referendum and we in dire need of spending millions of dollars to make our schools safe for our children. And we had the support not only of our parents, we had the support of the FDA, we had the support of this board and we had the support of a simple majority of voters that felt that we needed to spend that money to make our buildings safe. We all know about the issue with the open lots, but we want doors within those buildings. We want security investigators to make um the entryway safe. We have aging HVAC structures, some renovation issues, roofing issues. a lot more than what our typical capital improvement budget could pay for. So that's why we had the referendum and to be the state of New Jersey with throwing up to
00630% of that funding if the voters would feel that they did and they did and we had an election and that election it passed and the state of New Jersey is now on the hook give us upwards of $40 million our record. Okay, so $40 million coming in from all the taxpayers across the state through Freehold Township to offset our costs because of our infrastructure, but that money cannot be tapped into for anything else. It must be spent on that. So that's that's referendum funding. Then we have other funding. One of which, let's say for example, is a contract. We currently have a three-year expiring contract and we're looking at a budget cap of 2%. So when the school budget is created, we look at that 2% cap and we also look at medical exemptions.
007Sometimes our medical costs go up 10 15% and there are some exceptions where we can exceed that cap just for those exemptions. But typically we have to operate within that 2% cap. And what we don't want to do is we never want to try to get into a situation where we negotiate a contract settlement that is so costly that we would have to perhaps increase class size, reduce teachers. We don't like going down that area. That's why we have a negotiation. That's why we talk to our business administrator and we try to come up with a number that we feel meets the budget where we can avoid all of that. And that is still an ongoing process. So I'm going to quite explain the difference. There's two I call them buckets. One bucket of money
008that's the referendum. Can't touch that. The other bucket is what we raise from our taxpayers to our employees. Next thing I want to talk about a little bit is um this word out there also on social media. This whole thing of no strangers and outsourcing. We need to be realistic. We currently have SEXO our food vendor and we have outsourced people working for SEXO in this whole school system. They feed our kids. These are people that have vetted our department of education at security clearances. They're just hired through that avenue and we're in our Google because it's Alexa and although we have made absolutely no decision whatsoever, we're still in a negotiation. We've made no decision whatsoever in terms of doing any further outsourcing. I just want to put the rumor to bed about this
009whole thing about strangers and outsourcing. There's outsourcing already for decades that have gone on within our buildings. And again, I'm not saying that we're going to do that. But I am saying that um we have to dispel that rumor. The second thing I'd like to say is finally about negotiations itself. I've been involved. I think this is my kind of my this is my first contract and then this is Lambert as well. And I feel like there's there's really um you know a close settlement here. I don't feel like we're really that far apart. I mean I I appreciate the enthusiasm of here to support each other. I get that this board of education values its teachers very much. We value also our students and but as a board we also have a fiduciary responsibility
010to make sure that the parents that are going to go out millions and millions of dollars towards some settlement for the next contract. We want to make sure that the instructional time of our students is getting increased because we've seen over the years a diminishing of the actual instructional time that our children are getting in the schools. And we know for a fact that we increase instructional time for our students, but they want to perform better. That's one of the goals. That's why we exist. Why do we have a board and teachers, custodians, and and workers plowing the lot? We're here because we produce students. Hello. That's why we exist. And our students, our students are what's most important. And we're all here for them. And we know, everyone knows across the aisle that increasing
011instructional time for our students is beneficial. And that's our outlet. We don't make cars. We don't make airplanes. We make educated kids. So, we are still at the table. We have two more meetings of negotiation set up. Um, we have to clear the pass because it seems like there hasn't been much movement on either side towards a settlement. And all that means is that you just continue negotiating. Um, an arbitrator will come in and we'll talk to both sides and we'll try to get some movement and sort of decide them. But again, the offers being made by this district and the offers that we're hearing, they're not terribly far apart. So, um, I appreciate the crowd that's here. I I think it's probably unnecessary, but I do applaud that you're unified and that you want
012to have all your colleagues have a fair settlement and we want that as well. Um, but I just wanted to put it out there that I do think that um over the course of this summer we I feel confident that we should be able to come up with an agreement. I think that's fair for both sides. that this board is really adamant. We the votes on this board are for the students and for the fiduciary responsibility of the taxpayers that we can come to a reasonable settlement where everybody's getting the raise that they deserve. The children are getting the instructional time that they deserve and at the end of the day we can come to a meeting. So with that um I'm going to move on to the administrative report. Thank you. Um, both of
013our middle schools at this point hosted career days. Um, I want to thank those staff members who coordinated. Um, the career days, organizing the speakers, organizing the schedules, um, without their work and their coordination, it wouldn't have been successful or happened. Um I would like to thank our community members and not only our community members but also several staff members from our district participated in both schools to highlight their roles in the district and what they do working for our own district including preschool teacher Andrew technology. So various roles within our own district. Um so I'd like to thank our staff and our community members who participated and made uh career day successful in both of our middle schools. Uh I also wanted to highlight uh the last school year maybe two school last school
014year uh Mr. Brousardi who was the um speaker for Field Township High School. He's moved on to Manal and is an assistant principal. Um he had come over to have a conversation regarding um how they can work with their student population to as we do here try to um counteract and educate students on anti-bullying. And what they realized is that by the time they get to the high school some of the behaviors are ingrained. So, they came back to us and said, "Can we use our student leaders to work with your students?" And we came up with a three-year plan um working with third, fourth, and fifth graders. So, we're in year two, and a student leadership organization from Bo Township High School with two staff members came to each of our five elementary schools.
015This year, they worked with all third graders across the district on empathy and fourth graders on bullying versus conflict. And next year, it'll roll up to fifth grade. So, third graders will all get lessons on empathy. Fourth graders, bullying versus conflict, and next year we'll have our fifth graders, and every student will go through that in all of our elementary schools. Um, not only is it beneficial for our kids to learn from peer models, it's a wonderful opportunity to partner with the Freehill Regional High School District and Freel Township High School to provide them student leadership opportunities and our students really enjoy being educated and engaging with high school students. So, it's been wonderful. The feedback from our administrators and our teachers who have been in the classrooms to witness it has said it's wonderful.
016And uh we got an email of thanks from the um staff uh adviserss from the high school appreciating the hosting of the programs. The um engagement the teachers engaged in what they did our teachers engaged with what they did in the classrooms as well. So, I'd like to thank um those students, their adviserss, and it was a wonderful program and um bullying investigation report. Since our last um meeting, we had eight reports of harassment, intimidation, and bullying. Out of those eight reports, six were founded and two were unfounded. Thank you. So this is going to be the first opportunity for public participation on just items that are on this agenda. If anyone wishes to address the board, please write your name and address on our signin sheet and state your name for the record. Statements
017are going to be limited to three minutes and should not be abusive, obscene or defamatory in nature. Okay. Seeing none I'd like to move personnel policy and communications is not here. Mr. Absolutely. Uh we did not meet tonight. We did not meet tonight as the committee. So I'm just going to move to the items. Item number two, uh, first reading of policies and regulations as listed. Do I have to write read off the numbers there or just as listed? As listed as listed. Yes, sir. Item number three, first read to college policy as listed. Item number four, resignation as listed. Number five, new employment as listed. and we'll circle back to that one in a second. [Music] Okay. Number five, oh, sorry, I apologize. Number six, as listed, uh, do employment as listed. Number seven,
018extend change long-term assignment as listed. Number eight, leave of absence as listed. Number nine, salary adjustment update as listed. Number 10, resend PTO honoria as listed. Number 11, PTO honoraria as listed. Number 12, unpaid days as listed. Number 13, family engagement nights as listed. Number 14, affirmed during investigating investigation findings as listed. Number 15, student teacher practical observation placement as listed. Number 16, certified substitutes as listed. Number 17, non-ertified substitutes as listed. Number 18, termination substitute employment as listed. And like I said, I'm going to circle back to the hiring of Journey. I apologize, sir. Got to get back to my page. As I Oh, thank you. Um, want to acknowledge the hiring of James Ascalles as the assistant principal at Dwight D. Eisenhower Middle School. Now, once we vote, congratulations, which will take place
019in a few seconds. Okay. Do we have any discussion? We'll talk twice. I do twice. Um, do we have any Did we get a second? Mrs. gives a second. Do we have any questions or discussion? Okay. Seeing none, can I get a roll call? Mrs. Bran? Yes. Yes. Miss Crosby, yes. Mr. Gulo, yes. Mr. Lambert, yes. Mr. Williams, yes. M O Sullivan, yes. Mr. Yes. He has a big night. He's got a lot of friends. Okay. the uh curriculum committee there. Good evening and uh the curriculum committee did meet this evening. The attendance were myself Emily Crosby Sullivan and Rebecca Montgomery. We discussed the items on the agenda. We discussed also middle school math 8 and vision implementation which is coming. Uh we discuss I updates discussing the middle school professional day and review sessions
020involved with those days instructional usage data and upcoming focus group work with middle school teams. We also discuss atlas summer curriculum partner workshops and summer curriculum committees with the development and postings of curriculums. I'd like to read the following items for you. Number three program as listed. That's it. Thank you. Have a second. Awesome. Do you have any questions for quick? Okay. So none. All those in favor say I. I. I. Any opposed? Any discussions? Motion carries. Finance, Facilities, and Transportation. Mrs. Member, uh, the Finance, Facilities, and Transportation Committee did not meet this evening. So, um, sorry. Sorry. So, I'd like to move, Can you hear me? I'd like to move the following items. uh bills and claims in the amount of $3,716,41451 um along with um machine print checks of $32,925 reviewed by Mr.
021Williams. Mr. Williams, thank you very much. Item number three, travel and related expenses as listed. Item four, transfers as listed. Item five, donation of school supplies uh listed from the Freehole Beetle store to be used districtwide. Thank you to Freehole Beetle Store. Item number six, the PTO honor area update as listed for the Laura Donovan School. Item seven, specialized evaluations and services update um as listed. Soon Health LLC now adding physical therapy. Item number eight, safety grant program application as listed. Nine, competitive contract crossc courtyard digital contact content and skilluing platform with integrated lesson delivery and assessment tools as listed. Item 10, renewal of competitive contract for Sedexo. Um, do you need me to read the new prices or we're good on that? Okay. Um item item 11 um the approval to use title three
022funds for uh staff members to facilitate family engagement night. Item 12, the renewal of the ESCJ tuition contract. Item 13, amended professional services agreement um with regard to the referendum uh switching our um contract for our architects from a percentage to a set fee. And item 14 could request for proposals for construction management services also related to the referendum. Does anybody have any questions? Second. No questions. Okay. All those in favor say I. I. I. Any oppose? No. Okay. Thank you. Uh, we have no business. Oh, you have no business. I just wanted to update. I left two things off the administrative report. First, uh, for the assistant principal position in Eisenhower, we did we had 120 applicants. Uh, we we did two days worth of first round interviews uh to narrow it down. We
023interviewed 22, I think, candidates uh with a committee. We still believe in our committee process that I went through 21 years ago of a committee of stakeholders, administrators, teachers, uh support staff, parents. Um and um we went through two rounds of interviews. The second round candidates had an hour and a half that they had to be here. They uh they had to prepare uh create a presentation as if they were presenting to middle school uh staff members at during a faculty meeting. They had to uh prepare that presentation. to do a simulation activity and participate in interviews. Uh we did today conduct our first round of interviews for I'm not going to say Mrs. Arman's replacement because if for those that are there is no replacing capital but um for the Ericson principal position we
024again had our committee um structure with uh teachers, parents, uh support staff and administrators. Um we had 59 almost 60 applicants. We invited 12 people for first round interviews today. We'll be finishing those interviews after break to a second round and have a recommendation to the board in May for a July 1 start. Can I just piggyback that the assistant principal we appointed was a former student of some of us that are pretty old at the table. Um so it's really Oh yes, he was. Um, and I would also like to give a shout out that there were twice as many applicants to work in the middle school. Um, so middle school, very good. Always going to take off. Thank you. So in time, there will be no new business or further president's remarks. I'm
025going to open the floor to public participation of any type. This is a second opportunity for public participation. If anyone wishes to address the board, please write your name and address on the signing sheet and state your name for the record. Statements are limited to 3 minutes and should not be abusive, obscene, or defamatory in nature. Do you have anything?