001The open public meetings act NJSA 104-6 adequate notification of this meeting has been provided by the advertising in the record. Please rise for the flag salute and remain standing for a moment of silence. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the stands one nation under God, indivisible and justice for all. >> Thank you, >> Mr. Leu. Roll call, please. Thank you, Mr. Fino. Mr. Diaz here. >> Mr. Taylor is absent. Mr. Rodto >> here. >> Mrs. Assan >> here. >> Mr. Kelesz >> here. >> Mr. Gabber >> present. >> Mrs. Patiri >> present. >> Mr. Focarino >> present. >> Okay, there. >> I'm going to move to uh the superintendent report. Thank you, Mr. President. Um, I have uh some some things I want to say, but we're
002going to wait until after uh if that's okay to after a few presentations. But let's let's start with the student of the month if that's it's if that's possible. Um, and then uh we can move from there. So, Mr. Staffbeck, thank you very much. in AP calculus during his junior year. Among his many strengths, he is respectful, hardworking, and always upbeat. Regardless of the day, the month, the season, he's usually smiling, and he always has a positive take on things. The qualities that impressed me the most were his academic curiosity and his courage. He consistently sought to explore the most advanced concepts and he did this by engaging with the most challenging problems even when he was not sure about how to proceed. This willingness to explore, this willingness to risk being wrong is really
003what distinguishes him in our class. It enabled him to be the first and sometimes the only student to connect the dots among the most advanced topics. Beyond math, he excels in all his classes, sporting an unweighted GPA of 4.0. In other words, he's earned the highest grade you can get in every high school class that he's taken. This achievement has been recognized by his induction into both the National Honor Society and the Math Honor Society. He's got a particular interest in computer science and he's pursued it via coursework and also via his own independent projects. His programming includes a terrain generator and an implementation of Conway's game of life. Now, if like me you're not familiar with Conway's game of life, check it out online. Very interesting, very impressive. In any case, these coding projects
004again reflect his genuine passion for learning and for innovation. In addition to his academic achievements, he demonstrates leadership responsibility and reliability with his work experience. He currently serves as a lifeguard at the Y. He holds a certification in CPR. He's also worked as a cashier. His extracurricular involvement also very strong. He's a three sport athlete, cross country, swimming, and track and field. He serves in student government. He has outside hobbies, woodworking, and bonsai, that further reveal his thoughtful and creative sides. On top of these talents, he's fluent in English and Polish, and he's got a pretty good typing speed, 73 words per minute. This young man's future very bright. He's accepted to a great list of colleges. He's currently deciding between the New Jersey Institute of Technology and TCJ. In either case, he plans to
005study computer science, possibly focusing on machine learning and artificial intelligence. It's going to be exciting to see where his talents, his interest, and his work ethic lead him. Please join me in congratulating Garfield High School student of the month for February, Anj Pashet Bodski. [applause] >> [applause] >> Um, good evening. I'd just like to say a few thank yous. Uh, firstly to Mr. Sappenbeck for nominating me. Um, you know, I really appreciate that you think so highly of me. Uh, you're a great teacher. Um, I'd also like to thank uh the administration for making this possible. You know, uh, you were the reason things run smoothly. without you, Garfield, the Garfield, uh, educational district just wouldn't exist. Um, thank you for that. Um, I'd also like to thank the fantastic teachers of Garfield, you know,
006um, uh, especially those that I've had, uh, especially those in Garfield High School. Uh, those that have had an impact on me. Um, you know, what you do really does have an impact. Uh personally uh Garfield and the people in it are the reason why I love to learn and why I strive to to be better every day and um it's cuz they're fantastic people doing uh you know doing great things and u following their passions and um I'd just like to end with a final note of um you know uh Garfield is the city of champions because of the people in it. You know you're all winners uh because of what you do for each other and the rest of the world. Uh, thank you. [applause] [applause] That was excellent. Congratulations. Look forward to
007seeing uh great things from you in the future. So, okay. Um, we are now going to um go into our memorial dedication for uh Miss Bquette. Um, but before I call Miss Alfonso up here, I just want to say I absolutely um I'm the new guy still, right? But I I don't think I have a right to say anything about this incredible woman, but I'm going to say it anyway. Um, she's one of the first people I met here when I got here. Um, I knew, you know, um, you know, I knew her situation and what was happening and and I'm still still now in awe of how this woman, the resilience, never complained, was here. I I I don't even I I couldn't even tell you how many days she was here that she
008probably shouldn't have been here. And you all know that better than I do that worked with her. Um, just an incredible person. Um, and again, she impacted me and I've only I only knew her for a short period of time, but even every time I saw her, um, visiting her or even at board meetings when she came, uh, never never a negative thing to say. Um, just always putting her best foot forward. So, just an incredible person. So, I I know I'm not going to do her any justice, but um, for someone who is new to this city and how she welcomed me, uh, I will always appreciate her and I will I will miss her uh, as much as all of you do. So, uh, without further ado, uh, this has been delayed a
009few times because of the snow. So, um, so Jen, if you'd come up here and and give her a very incredible tribute, I would appreciate that. I want to start off by saying this is our lean that we canled it in January because of snow. Then we had to cancel it again in February because of snow. So she likes her warmer weather. So she was trying to tell me that I should have waited to the summer to do this. But this is everybody that knows Arlene. If it could happen, it happened to her. So just to start off with that, um, this is an emotional one for me so that if I I stutter or break up in the middle, you understand why. Good evening everyone and thank you all for being here tonight as
010we come together to celebrate, honor, and remember our beloved Miss Arleene. Miss Arleene was so much more than a school secretary. She was the heartbeat of our school. She was with her warm smile she greeted us every morning, her calming voice on the phone, and her steady presence to always make us feel better on our busiest day. She made everything more manageable. She made everyone, students, parents, especially the parents, they loved her and colleagues. She made everybody feel seen, valued, and safe. Her family was everything to her. If you knew Arlene, you knew her family because she could not express on how much she loved them and they were a huge part in her life. And while she was always kind and gentle, she also had a fierce side. Arlene would never let anybody put
011anybody down, whether it was family, staff, or students. She was always there to make sure that everybody was treated fair and especially her family. And her family was also her friends because they became a close part to her. Miss Arleene was not only loving and strong, she was also full of life. She was the life of the party. You knew when Arlene walked in the room, she came there to have a good time. She loved to go dancing. I used to tell her, "I'm going home to bed. Where are you going? I'm going out tonight." She would go dancing. She laughed loudly and she embraced every adventure she went on. She was a travel connoisseur that loved to go everywhere. Whether it was a celebration, a gathering, or a simple moment, she brought joy with
012her. She carried light into every room. And when she laughed, you laughed because some of her stories, Woohoo! The same love and spirit poured into our school community every single day. She gave her whole heart to the Garfield School District. And as Dr. Dr. Tomco stated her, she was never absent. She would come. I'm like, Arlene, do you want to go? No, I'm here. She would come every day. She was amazing. Selfishly, I never wanted Miss Arlene to leave. I wanted her forever. I wasn't ready to say goodbye, and I don't think any of us were. She was one of the strongest, most amazing women I have ever known. Her strength was quiet, but powerful. Her resilience inspired us. She would never have known she was sick unless you knew. And her love, her love
013was unmatched. No words can say this better. No words can ease the ache of losing someone who has meant so much. But I know this. Her memory will never fade. At James Madison School number 10, I it will live in the way we care for each other. It will live in the laughter in the main office and it will live in every Miss Arleene story we could have and there is many from when she fell in the drawer or she laminated herself. She wanted to keep herself clever. She really tried to laminate herself. To ensure that Miss Arlene will always be visible and permanent at James Madison School, we had a plaque and a framed picture made to honor her and it will be hung in the main office. I did tell the new secretary
014Arlene would be watching over her. Um, the main office was a place that she loved. She came, she socialized, and she worked. She was a an amazing work. The plaque reads, "In loving memory of Miss Arleene, guardian of the papers and the calls, bringing calm within the busy walls. With a smile for every child and a helping hand, the kindness heart in all the land, Miss Arlene, you were the true school heart, playing such a vital, caring part. Though you left your desk and quieted your pen, in memories you will guide us now and then, always in our heart. Miss Arene leaves behind a legacy of love that will never fade and a space in our heart that will never be filled. We were truly blessed to have known her, to have worked with her,
015and to have loved her. And we appreciate the family for sharing her with us. On a personal note, Arlene was more than a colleague to me. She was a true friend. There's not a day that goes by that I don't want to pick up the phone and call her or tell her what's going on or go into the office and have a talk. As much as she will be missed in the school community, everybody, especially my staff, knows how she will be truly missed in my heart and in my family's heart. This loss is not only professional, it is personal and it is profound. I am not a crier. So for me to be crying, it's very emotional. Miss Arleene, you will always be part of the James Madison family. You will always be part
016of the Garfield's district. You will always be part of Garfield because no other words, you are Miss Arlene. Um, we put a very small slideshow together. Before we started, I just want to point out this was her doing a 5K, stage 4 cancer, lung cancer, and we ran a 5K. And as we're running it, she's going, "Jen, you could go ahead." I go, "Hey, if I'm not coming in first, I'm coming in last because those are the two that are remembered." So, it was Miss Arlene and me crossing the line with the ambulance following behind because we were last. But I will tell you, she took second place in her age group that day. She might have come to last, but she got a medal and she's well deserving. Please enjoy this little brief show.
017[music] like is it peaceful? Is [music] it free like this? The [music] sun shine bright forever [music] way. [singing] [singing] [music] [singing] [music] >> [music] >> There's I hope you [music] I hope you sing [music] in the air down the [music] Angels [singing] know what they [music] don't tell me why [music] do you do [music] love >> [music] >> Is there is there she is my forever friend [applause] because we're being selfish and we're hanging the plaque up in school. You're not getting it. I made you this really nice thing on Canva. So, if one of the family members just want to come up, it's basically what the plaque is going to say. But again, any one of the family members once everything is hung, you're more than welcome to come and see. And then
018she could stare at you and tell you what to do. Okay. But again, Arlene, you're truly missed. [applause] This is a little hard. I've known Orne for over 50 years. What a fun Canaster knows Charlie be since he's 12 years old. and she would come and tell me all the stories about Trolley and and her big brother Tommy who she so very well respected are this is for you Garfield Public School Board of Education resolution in memory of Orleene Bquette. Whereas the Garfield Board of Education and the Garfield Public School community mourns the passing of Miss Orleene Burquette, a beloved administrator assistant who faithfully served the student, staff, and family of the district for 5 years. Whereas during her tenure with the Garfield public schools, Miss Bquette dominated unwavering professionalism, kindness, and dedication in her
019role, consistently supporting and dealing operations of the [snorts] district, and serving as welcoming presence to all who entered her office. Whereas Miss Bquette was known for her warmth, compassion, Tyler's work ethics, and her contribution extending beyond the administrative responsibility to fostering positive relationship with colleagues, students, and community members. Whereas her commitment to excellence and service reflected the very best quality of the Garfield school system. her her attendance will uh yeah will deeply be felt by those who had the privilege of working alongside her. Whereas the Garfield Board of Education recognizes the profound loss experienced by her family, friends, and co-workers during this difficult time. Now therefore, be it resolved that Garfield Board of Education expresses the heartfelt condolences to the family of Mrs. Miss Orleene Bartlett and extends its deepest sympathy and support. The further
020resolved that this resolution will be recorded in the official minutes of the Garfield Board of Education and that a copy be presented to her family as lasting tribute to her service and dedication to the Garfield school system. This was adopted February 25th, 2026. [applause] Heat. Heat. Thank you, Miss Peter. Uh, that was a touching tribute to Arlene, a dear friend for the family as well as the district personnel and uh, Arlene will certainly be missed. We appreciate her service to the district and um, her memory will live long. Thank you. minutes. >> I want to call for a motion to go into executive session. >> Just five minutes. We'll move. Uh all in favor >> opposed. >> The the uh board will return in 5 minutes. check. to come out of executive session. Mr. Otto,
021Mr. Hilas. All in favor? >> Opposed? Mr. Otto and Mr. Keelas. Uh, can I have a motion to approve the minutes from the last meeting? Resolution 3.1 to 3.2. Miss Ean. Miss Quillis. Mr. Quillis. Roll call. >> Mr. Diaz. I >> Mr. Odto. >> Yes, >> Mrs. Assan. >> Hi, >> Mr. Keelz. >> Hi, >> Mr. Gaba. >> Hi, >> Mrs. Peteri. >> Hi, >> Mr. Focarino. >> I >> Dr. Tomco, uh, if you could continue with the superintendent report. >> Yes, sir. >> Mr. Labu. >> Mr. Did you get my eye? >> Yes, sir. >> Okay. I had my mic on. Sorry. >> All right, Mr. President, can I continue? >> I will continue. Thank you so much. Um, before I get into my report, we uh the next thing on our agenda tonight
022is um we have our uh construction management team, well, half of the half of the executive team here, Eric Taus from u Pascat Construction Management Company, uh who's been working uh on on several projects with us on our long range facilities plan. Um obviously school 5 uh which you've probably seen the expansive work that's been happening there. Um other things that we've been talking about with regard to the the the uh new long range facility plan which will be coming to the board uh I guess like May probably right May uh because it's due five year the 5 years is up this May and but tonight he's here to give a brief um synopsis to the board and the community on our uh HVAC issue. So, as he's coming up here, I just want to
023say um he's done an incredible job. So has Miss Rendazzo and her team, our maintenance team. And I I just want to thank the board um for your support. U you know, we we were in communication every day. Um you know, I I think some individuals uh don't think there's communication going on, but there is. But you know, um Mr. myself and our team um and I'll speak to the board if I may. We don't we don't we don't want to see any of these issues. Um this is a a grueling winter. I think we can all agree to that even at our homes. Um again, this is the worst snow that we've had. Uh our crews have done an incredible job trying to get the lots ready and you know and even the DPW
024I have to DPW I know uh everybody can probably always say everybody can do better, but this was a was a lot. It really was. So, um, so I want to thank everyone, but, uh, but this team, bringing on Eric and team and John and you guys have done an incredible job. So, the board is eagerly waiting for your update, so I won't hold you back. Uh, well, thanks again, Dr. Tomco, and uh, uh, Garfield, the board of ed, and constituents here who are here tonight. Um, I would be remiss if I didn't expend uh, extend my condolences after that. That's a tough act to follow. Um, being in this community now for maybe 2 to 3 months, I can see, uh, every experience I've had with admin or any of your custodians, uh, Stephanie
025Randazzo, um, has been a great experience. Great experience. So, uh, again, my condolences. Um, so, basically, in the past two to three months, um, as as Dr. Tomco has brought me in when we were brought on. We've been looking at extensive issues uh through all the schools um roofs uh HVAC, electrical, plumbing. And as you can see in in the money that has been spent as we've been allocated towards the HVAC um there has been a lot of repairs on starting over at uh ECLC uh over at the Columbus school and as he has alluded to also it has been one of the coldest winters. We had you know sub freezing temperature for about 14 to 15 days. I know you had to move some children out of the school. We did the best we
026could to keep that school up and running. Uh the boiler repairs and replacement over at ECLC and constantly working with that. It's it's a maintenance situation and like anything, a lot of these units are at their end of life. Um and we've basically done the uh best we possibly can to keep you guys, you know, up up and running and heated. >> I turn it over to you guys if you guys have any questions for me. Mr. >> I do have a question on uh school number eight. Any updates on that? >> So school number eight uh we're working with inline. >> That's where the most issues were. >> Correct. Correct. We're working with inline uh looking for the unvent uh replacements. So you have a school that's 100 years old as you guys all
027know and you're well aware of. Um the unventilators are basically at their end of life. You have two boiler systems. Um as you guys all know originally was cold and was switched over to oil. then is running on gas, then is running on gas currently. Um, we're looking to move you guys up as the boilers that you have in here. You have benchmarks, you have lock and bar next door, uh, to bring them up to more efficiency, which will obviously show on the PSEG bills on your guys' terms and, uh, the amount of burn rate. Uh, univ, you have chillers on the roof. We've done extensive work on the chillers on the roof. Um and then moving forward with that, we should hopefully by your next meeting have put together uh you know an extensive
028report in reflection to the economics of it. Um I would be remiss to give you guys any update as far as the numbers go, but once we get to that you guys will it'll all be brought to you and then you guys can decide moving forward there what the best approach would be economically moving forward. But it is definitely time to look at that, you know, with a replacement mentality. Thank you very much. No problem. >> How is the heat there right now? >> Uh so currently at eight um I think there's maybe as of our last report maybe one or two units. Uh one or two classes in the basement and one on the first floor. All of the second floor is pumping heat. Um above standard 70 72 degrees. Um we're obviously not
029at you know 32 or below temperatures anymore. So the units don't have to fire and run as long or work nearly as hard. Um, probably one of the biggest things that we came across with the infrastructure of the building because it's so old, the outer walls are not insulated. So, one of the bigger units when the heat was getting to the coils, the heat may arrive and get to the coils at 130, 140°, but as they're running through the system because the walls are not insulated within those pipes, the coils cool down. And that's just a matter of the infrastructure. That's how buildings were built back then. >> Again, no one's fault it, >> right? And and that's that's to no one's fault. That's just the way, you know, engineering was was done back then.
030So those boilers have been working extremely hard to keep those temperatures arise. But hopefully if mother nature and uh you know cooperates and we don't look at you know 15 and 10 and 12 degree days, we can get the ambient heat around the 70s in the units and and make it to the spring. Hold out till March. >> Thank you. >> And just to confirm, when you say units, you're meaning actual in a unit in a room. >> So the un Yeah. Yep. The univary units that are in the room. Uh the hot water comes across, it's a hot water system, not a steam system, comes across the coil and then the blowers blow the hot air off of it. >> So it's really extremely limited impact. Maybe two to three rooms at any time
031>> currently. Yes. Two to three rooms. Yes. >> Thank you very much. >> I'm assuming even the weather didn't help with all this old units and the weather was really brutal this year. >> It was definitely a perfect storm for the negative. the snow, the cold. Uh, you know, if I was standing here at 100 years old, I sure I wouldn't be able to give a speech nearly. >> I guess I guess this one was a good wakeup call for >> the district and the border. >> Where's global warming? But [laughter] yeah, where is it? >> And how's the pipe over at ECLC? The pipe that froze on the roof. So ECLC have two um uh rooftop units that so that's a much I mean ECLC is an 18 to 22 year old building. I
032know this building and that building were two years apart with the SDA. So I always seem to forget which one's 18, which one's 20 years old. Um the two units on the roof, it was simply put we found a heat trace line that currently was not hooked up. We repaired it as quickly as possible, turned the heat trace line on. any of the valves that had broken and failed and given out. We were very lucky. It kicked over to the other RTU unit and you've been running on that one. So, those are dual units. They're hot air and so you have forced hot air and you also have the baseboard heat which is radiant and ambient heat and then you have air conditioning. So, the one RTU was doing all the work. We then were
033able to fix the other unit. We put a bypass unit on top so that the only one unit was only getting all the hot water. repaired the other one and now you're running tandemly cascading between the two units. >> Uh any updates on uh school number six? >> School number six was in reference to the roofing uh above the gymnasium. >> Yes. >> Uh whatever was issued in there. >> Yes. So school number six, you have that leak that seemed to be quite persistent in the past few years above the gymnasium. So the RTU units up there, we need to replace that roof. It's a small section of roof and a through wall that has to be replaced. So we're going to try and save those units to be as economically, you know, savvy as
034we possibly can. I don't know how old all those RTU units on. Uh we have the vendor looking at the the lifespan on those. If we can save them, we're going to replace a roof, take care of the leak that keeps coming into that gymnasium and then reuse the existing units. If we can't do that, then we're going to look at the the second avenue, which would be replacing those units if we're going to remove them because if we do put them back up and and run them again, it's kind of pennywise, dollar dumb if we put the same units up there. But we're definitely approaching. >> That's a nine. So I'm assuming all these uh issues it will be in a report for next month. >> Absolutely. Right. >> Absolutely. >> Thank you. >>
035That was school nine. >> It was school number nine. >> Yeah. Six. >> Yeah. >> I'm sorry. School number nine. >> Okay. >> There's a couple of them. I get a little confused on two. I think six. >> I remember when we took the tour in the other page. We went in >> Yeah. >> Five or six schools. >> Six also has a leak, but I think six was more in reference to boiler replacement. There was some work done on pumps and relief valves. Thank you. All right. Any other questions from the board? >> Thank you very much. Keep up the great work. Appreciate it. I mean, I I think it just it's a testament to what everybody trying to work together. And >> not that we don't want you here, but we don't want
036you here. >> I I can see [laughter] I'm a necessary evil. >> Exactly. >> I understand. And and working with the staff that you have your maintenance and so on. I have to say, um I probably don't have to do it, but I would be remiss if I did not. Stephanie Randazzo is an absolute dream to work for. I think her husband might be questioning it because I think I text her a little too much and call her too much. So, you guys can do it. Thank you again. >> Thank you, Eric. Okay, a few more things and then I want to get into um something I just want to talk about real quick. I was wondering what that was. [clears throat] Um first, uh would like to I we we sent a thank you
037letter. I'm going to send it to the board. I have it with me. I forgot to give it out to you guys. Uh to the VFW. uh want to thank the VFW, Mr. Keelles, your post and commander and um all the members there uh helping us with school 8 issue. Uh we had to um basically relocate a few classes um because of you know again these arctic temperatures below you know almost below zero overnight or probably some below zero. Um and uh just did an incredible job accommodating us. Um so we thank you very much. Um, I want to thank everyone there. Uh, they came through for us. So, thank you for that. Um, also tonight, uh, there's an addendum to this a change in the school calendar. So, what is being proposed tonight? >>
038Can you hold out one second? I have a question. Definitely. Okay. Um so, uh we have a proposal for a new calendar, [clears throat] um uh that's on an addendum, uh tonight. uh the the board you know there are a few options there are a couple things that we discussed uh I think the board is has taken in consideration a lot of different things. Um one of the things that we want to see moving forward is um you know uh adding a celebration for Eid which I guess is difficult to pick that day until the actual year. So, you're going to see that next year. But just want to reiterate to all those parents out there, whether whether you, you know, um celebrate Ramadan or a Catholic holiday or any other holiday, Quanza, whatever it
039is, um if if if for some reason the district is not closed that day and and you feel um that you want to celebrate that holiday and that worship, uh it is absolutely without any type of penalty to your child for being out that day. Um, so I'm encouraging you as as a part of our culture in Garfield that that you know uh one of the first things I did was I met with uh well that's how I I met pastor here, right? I met with all of the the congregations and everyone because that is part of community. You know I know there's always that you know church versus state kind of thing. That's many many years ago and that's where trailers first were born believe it or not. Um but at the but the
040end of the day we are one community here. Um and uh this board again uh and I know this administration uh we respect um you know anything that you feel is important to your family. So please if if those days are important, please take that day off, let us know. Um tell your uh building principal or building secretary um that is a religious observance and will be excused. Um if there is an issue with that, which I know there won't be, but you can always contact my office and I'll make sure that uh that we clear up the miscommunication. So, I just wanted to make that really clear. Uh, but moving into that, uh, what's recommended, uh, what's going to be recommended tonight for the board on an addendum is to, um, we have the
041ability here in in Garfield because we don't have, um, a locked in graduation day. Uh, we we are going to extend the recommendation is to extend the year one day. Uh, which bring will bring graduation out to the 24th uh, to make up for the um, snow day that we are now under. So we are minus one right now in snow days. No, it's this one. Yeah, just one day. Um so originally right now we're at the 23rd. Um we are now going to move to the 24th. So uh again that will keep us at 180 days barring that there's no other event which we'll take care of if it does happen. So um but that's the recommendation tonight. So it's basically just extending the school year one day. uh which would just mean that
042that would be the day back for um for the uh 18 days. Okay, so I just wanted to explain that. All right, we talked we talked about HVAC a lot and I think one of the things that we are finding and again I I'm very careful with um I want to be really clear that this is this is not a reflection on any past administration, on any past maintenance, none of that stuff. Again, we are here uh we are dealing with what we need to deal with moving forward. We know for for the next future boiler makers um and the future boards and the future superintendent and students and staff. We need [snorts] to make sure that we have a um a very well scripted maintenance plan in place. Okay? And that doesn't mean that
043we don't have qualified people here, but you know, we have our people here doing so many things already that a true maintenance program on a brand new boiler is important. Just like at your house, I'm sure you probably have a yearly maintenance where somebody comes and they clean it. Well, there are companies that do that. So, I think this is really important. That's going to segue me into what I need to say because these next few weeks are going to be very critical in my office and in Mr. Leoo's office, the business office, and with the board with regard to budget. Okay. Uh the governor uh because it is her first term uh has the ability to set or change the budget calendar uh for us. Um which did extend a little bit, but they
044really didn't help us because we're in April April election. Um because she probably will not give her speech until is it March 10th? March 10th. So, we won't know until March 10th the funding that we'll be getting in aid, right? It's very difficult to budget that way. We can cross our fingers and hold, you know, hold our eyes closed real tight, hoping that that we do um continue to get the aid that we've been getting here, especially since I've been here. Um, however, [snorts] I would be remiss as the chief school administrator and I would be remiss as a representative of this board if I didn't tell you what we're facing right now. And Mr. Loo and I, he's been here more than I have this past week, but been scrubbing all the numbers, um,
045doing everything we possibly can to put scenarios in place because our main thing right now is to maintain programs, is to bring things in for our kids because that's the that's the mission of this board. Okay? Bring programs, bring bring equipment, bring all these things our kids need to make sure that we are on the same and above par than any other district in the state. I'll say even the country. Okay? Our kids deserve the best. Um, and you'll see some of that stuff on here tonight with with some creative things that we've done with leasing um for computers that we that are necessary. Okay. But but I I need to make it very clear the wall that we're running into right now without even knowing what the aid numbers are. Okay. So before we
046even take a pencil out, this board is going to have the a major some major decisions to make with us in conjunction with us representing you all on a few things I want to talk about real quick just so just so it's out there. These aren't set in stone, but these are true and tried numbers numbers that we've done everything we can to to scrub. So, and I use that word because it's like you're really you're really getting down to like just 10 minutes before our first meeting started, we were looking at some lines that we were we were trying to make sure that we had correct um when we're bringing this new budget to you all. So, the benefits piece because we were still in the state benefits plan, okay, the benefits piece is
047a 12% increase right off the top of the bat. We have to you have to understand that in order to maintain benefits for all of our employees here, including me, okay? And I appreciate the board helping us with that. Um, our share as a board is 12%. 12% is almost $5 million. So before I say anything else, the board has to raise the levy $5 million. Okay. All right. So So that's number one. That's the state health benefits plan. Okay. Overall, conservatively, we're at a 4.5% increment increase for salaries. Okay? Doesn't matter what was negotiated with the increment with new people coming in, people going out, etc. Breakage, we're at approximately 4.5%. All right. Um, that is again contractual, nothing we can do about it. It's what the board is is is faced with. Okay.
048So, right there we are at um those two those those two big big numbers. The $5 million in health benefits is is enormous. We are at 50% and a 50% increase in energy just like you all are at home. Okay. Energy for some reason people think we don't pay an energy bill. It's not true. Right? We're working with a couple companies now that go back was it 5 years? Go back five years to see if there are any mistakes made on energy bills and we get a little bit of money back. So, we're doing our due diligence, but we're at 50% increase, which is approximately $1 million. Okay, before we even talk about anything else. And lastly, we are about a 50% increase in our sub rate. Right, when I first got here, if you
049remember some of the the more interesting meetings that that I was was at with all of you, um it was we don't have subs and classes where we can't get people in classes. So what we did with the following year is we contracted with a company to make sure that our classes were covered. Our rate went from like a 61% coverage rate on a daily basis average to a 93% now. So 93% of our classes are covered which is an incredible thing. However, that's not free. Right? So we're looking at another million dollar increase there as well just to make sure all of our classes are covered um based on contractual agreements of people taking days off etc. Okay. So in a nutshell, those are four major budget numbers, okay, on a on an appropriations
050type of idea that this board and this administration are dealing with before we even sit down and talk, before we even know what the governor is going to do, before we even know where our aid package is. And nobody even knows what's happening with the federal grant monies yet. All right. The title monies 1 2 3 4. The title monies in this community have offset and I think we've done a pretty good job the past 2 years um trying to take all the salaries out of the budget lines for title because once you take away title money and it's tied to a salary, well now your tax levies got to cover that, right? So we did a pretty good job with that. Just trying to use title money for programs, equipment, uh you know, computers,
051anatomage tables for the kids. It's for the kids. That's what title money should go to, right? So, so we did a really good job um bobbing and weaving with that. However, we don't know what the federal government's going to do. My my guess right now from what I'm hearing is that they're going to take all the title grants and squeeze them together and just give you one one grant and that's what happened during the Reagan era. If you guys remember Ronald Reagan, that's what they did. Um which is good and bad. It's good because we get to use it on anything now, but it's bad because, you know, once you do this, you know, they don't give you the same amount. So, so that's going to offset some stuff, too. So, again, the the meeting
052be we're at the meeting before the big budget crunch. So, we want to talk about transparency. That's as transparent as I can lay it out for all of you. No one's fault up here on this deis. No one's fault in the, you know, it's it's life. It's happening. Okay? It's reality. All right? It's no one's fault in the past. who who these are whatever these reasons for these agreements or um healthc care needs it it happened for the reason why it happened so now we just have to settle it but again there's going to be some tough decisions um these are true and tried things there's not much wiggle room with these at all okay um so again I'm hoping that we get a nice bump again or I dare say it but I hope
053we definitely stay flat in aid cuz if we get any money taken away from us um then we're we're in a totally different ball game. So, we've been working hard. We have some scenarios to give to the board, but there's going to be some difficult decisions to be made. But I think it's important whoever's watching at home or whoever sees this or whoever is going to watch it now, you realize what this board is dealing with. This is not we're going to wake up one day and just say, "Yeah, let's cut this, let's cut that, or let's move this." No, these are these are difficult things. And especially, I have to say, and I will say it, this board is very fiscally responsible. This board is very frugal just with some of the questions I
054get on a daily basis, which is great. It's an incredible thing. Um, you could read about me. You could Google me. I know we've did this in the past couple years, but do I spend a lot? I spend on kids. I spend on programs. That's why we're here. Okay. Um, if our kids need something or if our kids want something to be successful, our job is to get it to them. Okay? That's not fluff to me. That's why you guys brought me here. Okay? Uh, so we're going to continue to do that the best we can. We're not going to stop growing. We're not going to stop moving our kids forward for what they need. You know, the world is changing. It's different than when I was in school. It's different than when you were
055all in school. Um, but we have to just, you know, there's not much you can do when you're putting, you know, something square in a round hole kind of thing, you know. So, um, so that's where we're at. Um, I'm positive. I'm confident that we're going to get through this budget cycle. Um, the other thing, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but Eric Torres was here. is doing a great job. I think he probably left already, but you know, school 8, which has been on our radar every single day, needs a complete overhaul of a heating system. Complete overhaul, boilers, unit ventilators, and rooms. It's sort of like building a brand new hotel, okay, with what, 30 something rooms, right? That is not free. That is not cheap. Okay. Will we offset
056some of that with SDA monies that we hopefully will get? Sure. That's what we're hoping for. Um, but we don't know if that's coming in yet. We're going to try to do the best we can with that. This board was in incredible in putting $700,000 in capital reserve. They made a commitment to that. So, so it's offset, but we're talking about a big ticket number. Okay. So, when it gets hot here in a couple months now, we all start talking about air conditioning. Let's remember my conversation now. Okay. Okay, let's remember all the hits we've been taking because one school has had a real issue with heat and we're just trying to, you know, do the best we can for our kids. So, I will say I will end this by saying progress. Um, and
057again, we are uh we are hitting the ground running. We're up um well, Jack's been bothering me late at night with a couple things. Like it's like, you know, I'm trying to sleep and it's going off. So, so we're we're losing some sleep on this, too. So, um I appreciate that. Jack's also on the programmatic side. He's been in the trenches, right? So, so there are some ideas that we have for the board to try to consolidate some things. I think they're pretty creative things that I think will uh, you know, uh, stretch out some of the grant stuff, especially preschool grant monies. Um, we have a couple ideas for that. Um, so again, uh, I just wanted to be really transparent and bring it out there. So, thank you. Is he uh >> I
058was just wanted to know for the uh salaries you said 4 and a.5% um do you know about what dollar amount that is we could get that for you Mrs. We don't we I'm afraid to just give you like a you know just cuz it's in public but we can give you the actual number. We get it. >> And the other thing I was going to ask about is for school late. Have they even given any type of like ballpark figure? >> Have have they given any type of ballpark figure for that yet or no? >> Yeah, we do have a ballpark figure. Maybe Mr. Leu can uh so I'll let you take that. >> Yeah. So let me if I can just roll this right into the >> VA report. So um just to
059chime in on on the things that have been discussed. So the uniqueness of that project is the roofing impact and making sure that that's sound um the electrical um angle making sure that the service and the uh electric that's going to now take care of these although more efficient just the logistical piece of it where wires are run and and that h that kind of stuff all needs to be factored in as well. So, we've been we've been working on that process with multiple vendors um that are in cooperatives and you know, we'll continue to do that that digging. So, that's why um it's not such a quick fast answer. Um but we are working towards that. We're getting in roofing numbers. We're getting in electrical numbers and we're getting in obviously the the equipment
060that's necessary for for the heating um unit ventilators and then the boilers of course. >> Okay. Thank you. Well, I'm not trying to put you on the spot just because we're throwing out there, you know, just so people have an idea of what we're doing with this money. >> Yeah. I mean, it's going to be several million dollars for sure. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. >> Well, yeah, for sure. When we factor in all the units in the rooms, everything. Yeah. Electrical, um, roofing. >> Absolutely. >> Right. I I think if you I I'll talk about that because I Mr. Otto just brought that up. So the board is is going to be faced with a decision with you know we we're we're building basically a new house right so and we've talked about HVAC
061you know we we talked about the past there was HVAC HVAC idea so we have the ability to now look at that and at least just like we did with the lighting here and stuff like that possibly get ready to put a certain coil in a unit ventilator where that maybe the next cycle or down the road we can you know put some monies aside to maybe add air conditioning to. So again, a full heat and air conditioning unit is extremely expensive right now. Um we know the main issue is the heat, but I think we could be smart enough to not um you know, handcuff any future board for doing that. So I think that probably be uh one of our recommendations to you. But but again, I mean, you know, especially Mr. you,
062we've talked about that several times and I think it's a great idea to make sure that, you know, we're we're forward thinking um and and trying to make up for some of the things we need. >> Yeah. All right. So, um just to to segue into the the the BA report. So, again, um want to thank um Eric for coming in tonight. Um his work has been invaluable to this point. again um the snow, the cold have have really pushed our our our buildings um to the brink. Um and they they've withstood them, but you know, it's taken a lot. Our our maintenance team um has been previous years. I mean, those are types of decisions um that need to be made throughout. But the the the domino effect is after that is we're going
063to be relying on vendors. Um we've been doing a good job of working through uh cooperative purchasing, making sure that that we're we're getting the best out of our aging equipment. Uh and then again being in position where we can get through seasons, make smart decisions on what we want to do moving forward, how we want to budget for it, and of course with you know the exciting piece of of biggest piece of our puzzle moving forward in our elementary buildings is is the opening of school number five um in the notsodistant future. Um so so with that um I wanted to just uh point out that the work that's being done by our maintenance staff, by our custodial staff, um to get the buildings, um opened and get them ready has been commendable. Um
064again, we expect a lot out of out of our staff members and and they've delivered. Uh I also want to take a moment and thank um the members of the business office. You know, we spent most of the week um in the office in and out working through some some of the number crunching. Uh as Dr. Tomco mentioned late night conversations, whatever it takes to make sure that all of the the prep work is done, things are evaluated, things are re-evaluated, and so that that we can withstand um the challenges that we're facing. We know that we've had some some department shrink over the years from um you know uh from many changes in administration here um and and that's our reality. So so we're at a point where we've got some very tough decisions
065to be to make. Um, one of the other things that that I just want to make sure that we talk about in terms of increasing costs costs to our district, our out of district placement, um, those costs are increasing significantly. Um, we are expanding our special ed programs. We are, um, we're accommodating more special ed, um, population. With that becomes the cost of teachers, the cost of power professionals, the cost of child study team members to support the families and the children. Um it's you know it's been um it's been a unique situation sitting on this side um and working alongside Dr. Tomco um and his insistence that we bring in the best people. We bring in people um if we have people with experience and if the people who interview find teachers that are
066worthy of our students that belong here that can be a part of this great team um that we believe we have um we go out there and we try to bring in the best people for our district. So, um I think I think that's an exciting thing for members of the community. Um but it becomes a challenging things for us in the office and and we continue to work through them together. So, uh I appreciate the conversation um you know uh with with the business office, the conversation with people on the academic side and and them allowing me to still moonlight in that in that space. Um but it's been a very productive uh few weeks. It's been a very challenging few weeks. um but one that we know is going to put the children
067and and the members of the community uh in the best position moving forward. >> Thank you, Mr. Libu. Uh there are no committee reports this month, so I'm going to open up the meeting for public comments on agenda items only. Are there any comments from the public regarding agenda items only? Seeing none, I'm going to move to ask for res a motion on personnel resolutions 8.1 through 8.23. >> I'll make a motion. >> Mr. Garba second. >> Mr. Quillis. Any discussion? Roll call. Mr. Libu. >> Mr. Diaz. >> I. >> Mr. Otto. >> I. Mrs. Assan. >> Hi, >> Mr. Keelz. >> Hi, >> Mr. Gaba. >> I >> Mrs. Peteri, >> I >> Mr. Fino, >> I a motion for resolutions 10.1 through 10.20. >> I'll make a motion. >> Second Gaba, Mr. Mr.
068Gaba, Mr. Quillis discussion. >> Uh yeah, Dr. Tomco, can you clarify 1018 for the public, please? >> Yes. So 1018 1018 is a a state contract uh for the the uh lease purchase of computers new new uh computers for the middle school and high school students. These are onetoone computers. The computers that we are um that we have now um are basically computers that were purchased um straight out during CO days from some of that um era money that was given. Uh and uh right now we uh are [clears throat] having a very uh hard time maintaining programs due to the fact that the operating systems are at you know uh Windows 11 and these these computers do not have the capacity to kind of upgrade those systems. So, so, uh, we, uh, we brought
069a, uh, we brought this, um, this contract, this lease agreement, uh, over the next 5 years, uh, to the board where it's basically covered, um, through some budgeting, some future budgeting, um, scopes of budgeting that we have with regard to other leases that are coming up. So, the the impact uh, to the district is basically nothing. I hate to say it that way because there's always an impact but but the reality is we have these cost covered and I think it's an incredible thing for our kids um with AI and all the other technology and things we're bringing in like we talk about an animatanage tables which I can't wait to roll one of those in here one day and show the board and the community what we're talking about uh but this is definitely
070a home run um for our technology upgrade. We've done a lot with technology this year. Um the board's been committed for the internet, you know, internet um upgrades and just even things extracurricular activities, the esports program, all these things are are uh you know, all student centered and uh and that's what that's for. >> Thank you. Uh Mr. Levu, roll call, please. >> Sir, Mr. Diaz, I >> Mr. Otto, >> abstain from 10-2, 10-3, 10-4. for I arrest >> Mrs. Assan. >> Hi, >> Mr. Kelesz. >> I >> Mr. Gabber >> abstain 10.1 10.2 I the rest. >> Mrs. Peteri >> I >> Mr. Focino abstain 10.1 on the rest. Uh I just have two extensions of 1.1. Um Mr. was abstension. >> Moving on to education resolutions 12.1 through 12.17. Motion >> Mr. Otto.
071>> Second. >> Mr. Gaba. Discussion. Roll call. Mr. Leil. >> Mr. Mr. Diaz I >> Mr. Otto >> 12.4 number nine abstain I arrest >> Mrs. Assan >> I >> Mr. Kelesz >> I [clears throat] >> Mr. Gaba >> I >> Mrs. Petiri >> I >> Mr. Foc >> I >> facilities resolution 14.1 through 14.2 I have a motion >> Mr. Otto >> Miss Lissan discussion roll call >> Mr. Diaz >> hi >> Mr. Roto >> I >> Mrs. Assan >> I >> Mr. Kelesz >> I >> Mr. Gaba >> I >> Mrs. Peter >> I >> Mr. Fino >> I >> policy resolution 17.1 may I have a motion >> I'll make a motion >> Mr. Garber >> I'll second >> Mr. Diaz discussion roll call >> Mr. Diaz I Mr. Roto >> Hi,
072>> Mrs. Assan. >> Hi, >> Mr. Kelesz. >> I >> Mr. Gaba, >> abstain. >> Mrs. Peter, >> I >> Mr. Ferrino. >> I. At this time, I will open up the meeting to public comments. Please state your name, address. >> Good evening. Sean Rezio, 96 Farnum Avenue. Now, I just wanted to go over something that wasn't said tonight, but has to do with an incident at school 8. Uh, the main reason for most of the evacuation that occurred on January 29th. >> Now, I want to start with >> Mr. Relo, can you do me a favor? Yeah. Can you talk on the mic cuz I can barely hear you? I got you. >> Maybe they can uh extend it for you where where Mike is. You don't have this this better. >> Or I'll
073try to be like this. >> Yeah. I'm sorry. A little tall. >> He's not like us. He's too tall. >> There you go. That better now. >> All right. So I want to start with an email that was sent from the superintendent to all the parents where he says and I quote importantly there was no fire or immediate danger at any point of this incident. He also said in the same email that the fire alarm was never activated and the records I have here show very much otherwise. Now the documents I received were from the city that being the police report and the fire report. And just to dig into these a tiny bit on the official police department report from the Garfield PD at 10:04 a.m. it says alarm sounding evacuation in progress. Now
074from the fire report, I'll read you some of the highlighted lines I have here. Firstly, uh these are all from the fire investigator. By the way, the alarm system was manually activated using pool station. There were visible scorch marks of the transformer and the interior of the heating unit. We interviewed the first arriving officer who stated that upon his arrival he met Garf police and school security who reported a heing unit on fire. So to be clear and it's also worth mentioning the fact that the original 911 call was placed by the alarm company and uh I was also provided with the actual comms that the fire department has and very clearly I I went to the Garp schools. I know how the alarm sound like and can hear the alarm voice in the background.
075And to be clear, the police department says there was a fire. The fire department says there was a fire and disp dispatch does say that an alarm was sounding. Yet when parents received the email that I read out loud, they were told there was no fire or no alarm. Now the super email also says, "Moving forward, I am directing that any nonfire safety concern will include an immediate and automatic evacuation." And that sentence alone tells me more than enough and tells parents more than enough that the protocol changed because what happened wasn't sufficient enough. Now, the matter of fact is parents rely on the district to tell them what actually happened. Not a softened version or a partial version and especially not a version that contradicts official police reports. If we expect parents to trust
076this district, if we expect parents to have confidence in this district like we have been saying for many months now, when issues like this arise, I understand they have they happen and I'm not saying it was anyone's fault that there was evacuation that took place. But what I am saying is that when we actually give parents this information needs to be correct and most importantly it needs to be truthful. Now in front of me I have two separate realities. I have the email from a superintendent and I have the reports from the city. Now, my question isn't whether alarms were activated because the report suggests that they were. My question is why were parents told the opposite in writing and why was that correction never formally issued? >> Can I respond to that through the
077chair, please? I know I know Mr. Gordo doesn't want me to, but I I really Dr. Tonko, yes you may. >> Thank you. I really don't want to, but it's like the second time now that this gentleman has gotten up here and he's taking bits and pieces of things. Last time he took something I said two meetings ago and put it together something I said with two meetings after. So again, I understand that you're candidate. I understand that this is, you know, part of it. I understand you care about this district a lot and so do I. But I would be remiss if I didn't answer this now. So there is a board policy in every district which talks about non-fire incidents. Okay? So for example, back in the 1980s, probably before you were born,
078people used to smoke in a bathroom. There was a smell of smoke. Fire alarms didn't go off, right? But again, everybody knew there were 10 kids smoking in the bathroom. So these were this is when these policies came about where that if there is no fire alarm activated, okay, because of an active fire in a building, the administration has the ability through policy, which the which Garfield Board of Education has like every other district has on the books um prior to me getting here, uh the administration has the ability to make the decision whether or not to evacuate the building or not. They're called non-fire events. Okay? It's very clear. It happens it it happens often in many districts. Okay. Uh it's happened here a few times already. Uh and I think when when we
079had SRO's in the building, it was very simple to do incident command, talk to SRO. SRO would would call something in um through their walkie-talkie or whatever it is, and uh things would get accomplished that way. Um that's what happened here. We had a uh we had a unit ventilator that we just talked about in school 8, okay, that was overheated. Um there was a smell of smoke coming from it. someone contacted um someone contacted uh the uh inline who is our vendor to say oh there's something going on in that room while other teachers went down to inform the administration. So, at in my opinion, I'll just say this is my opinion, at no time was there such an urgency that anyone pulled a fire handle or um whatever firebox, whatever we're calling it,
080uh that we had to evacuate a building. When when that happened and we contacted um uh our our incident command, which is uh Mr. Zara, contacted the fire department uh and that time then we manually evacuated the building. So, no, the fire alarm never went off. There was never an active fire. Okay. I don't know how it was reported. I'm glad it was reported that way. However, it was reported, but I would think if it was an active fire in there, I think there would be other things that had to occur whe rather than letting us back in the building within a few minutes because it was like 3° outside. So what what happened at that point was I made it very simple decision that that that policy now basically is no longer in effect
081where if anyone smells any sees or smells anything of smoke, gas, an outside fragrance that is abnormal, we are immediately evacuating the building. Okay. The law is very clear that if the fire alarm goes off and is activated because of something that's active in a building, you have to evacuate the building. The question comes when the alarms don't go off. All right. So now we made it really clear to er on the side of caution because of some of the concerns for whatever reason is that there's no more thinking just leave the building, which to me makes sense. It really does. Okay. Uh we had a we had a meeting with the town officials. We had a meeting with the fire department to discuss this. We explained the policy. we explain moving forward and everyone
082is and everyone is directed uh you know um accordingly. All right. Uh if anything, I was probably more transparent than I should have been by by sending something out to the parents because I know the parents here want to hear what's happening. But sometimes in in an immediate thing when we're when we're we're in a cause of concern for the safety of people, sometimes it's difficult to get things out and sometimes it's difficult to get things out until the investigations are finished. All right? especially if there's personnel involved, there's other people involved. There there's teachers that were in the building, too. There's there's there's a lot of things that are going on. But to think that in any way something was sent out that is contradictory on purpose, I completely take offense to that, that
083you just got up and you just said that. Okay? No. Every listen, if you were going to be up here and say that, then I'm going to respond to it. every time you've contacted me for everything, which was on a daily basis, we've given you almost all the information you needed, whether it was Oprah requests that you needed, you wanted documents, whatever it was. But to get up here and to say that, I I take exception to that. I have to be honest with you. So, to be extremely clear, there was nobody in danger at any time. The students were evacuated evacuated out of uh out of an error of caution. And the other thing too was back in the back before I got here, the reason why this policy took place was for the
084simple fact that if our team here, our security team, which was incident command with the SRO's, and then we also have firemen that are on staff, especially one in school 8, they could handle it themselves. They didn't want to put any other firemen in danger coming down here. There there are different things that were in place. That is all negated now. It's all a simple thing. uh we had board members at the meeting with me. We made it very clear to the administration and I think since then we've had two evacuations I think just the question. So so moving forward um that's where we're at. Um and and that's where I leave it. So um there there's really nothing else to say. >> Thank you Dr. Tomco. Any other public comments at this time? I
085see none. I will ask the board for any comments from the board. Miss Peter. Okay. Well, >> uh, obviously the student of the month left, but that was very impressive. I don't know. I was impressed very much. Uh, thank you to the teaching staff at the high school, the principal, Mrs. Demo. You do a bangup job. I work with you guys, so I know how hard you work. Um, as far as what goes on with the heat, I'm a very I get up very early in the morning to Texas from Dr. Tomco. There's no heat in this building. We're working on it. Inline is the board knows. He sends out a mass text or emails to us letting us know what's going on, where it's going on, and if nothing's going on to let us
086know, uh, Mr. Grandazo and Inline are at the school doing this, doing that. Like a Okay, what are you telling me? They're there. Thank you. But um we're trying to get it. Let's put it this way. There's no reason there shouldn't be heat at number eight school, but it's no one's fault. This is not blaming anybody, but this is years and years and years of neglect. whether it could have been because of money, but we're trying to get it up. Nobody wants a child to go to school in the the cold. No one wants a teacher to have to sit there with a coat on and try to teach. We're doing the best we could. And that's I think that's all I have to say. And oh, thank you um uh Mr. Quillith for letting
087us use the VFW. I mean, you pulled got that done real fast for us again with Mr. Tomco and Mr. Leu. It all worked out and thank you so much. >> Any other comments from the board, >> Mr. President? I just want to >> um to the student of the month. I know he's not here, but for the people that are watching, this this kid is amazing. He has a great future ahead of himself, Mr. Mo. Wonderful. 4.0. you know, he's a lifeguard. He's he's a honor society. He's a math. This kid is a genius. I'm glad he's coming out of Garfield. That's that's important. Thank you to the teachers that allow uh this kid to progress and use all his senses to the best of his ability to um to the tribute to Miss
088Bquette, Arlene Bart. I didn't personally know her, but I can relate to her. My wife is a cancer survivor and I understand the pain, but she uh she has this this ability to be happy and and the word that Dr. Tomco used was resilience. She had a lot of that and she continued to fight knowing that whenever it's time is time. So, uh, my respects and my condolences to the family and I want to thank the family for lending her to this community, to the district, uh, and providing her the job that she did for school number 10. And she will be remembered for someone that did a lot of kindness and did a great job in our community. uh for the heating system, I think the vice president already said the issues that we
089are are encountering and um and when it comes to the budget, uh there isn't too much to discuss. I think the Dr. Tomco gave a good briefing on on what to expect and and hopefully we uh can get all the support from the governor to ensure that this district can move forward without any mishaps. But if it doesn't happen like that, we just got to adapt and overcome and address the issues that are in front of us. Uh, thank you very much for your time tonight for coming out. Thank you, Mr. President. >> Thank you, Miss Isa. >> Um, I don't want to echo too much of what's already been said, but I think the student of the month, uh, just very, very impressive. And, um, when I go home, I'm going to look up
090this Conway's game of life. But um probably beyond my uh mental capacity, but I'm going to check it out. [laughter] Very, very smart guy. Very impressive. Uh Miss Bquette. Um I did have the pleasure of knowing her and I think she was a person that really brought like the the light and the energy into the room. Uh very pleasant person to know and she will be greatly missed. Um, everyone in this community is always doing a lot of things and so I it may have been overlooked, but I want to thank the uh Rotary Club for donating funds for the softball scoreboard. And I also wanted to point out that uh students at school 9 and the GHS Interact Club both held uh fundraisers for the fire victims for the fires that happened a few
091uh weeks ago. So, just want to thank the students for coming out and doing what they can for the community. Thank you. Oh, also um for everyone who was celebrating uh bless Linton Ramadan, >> Mr. Diaz, >> the uh student of the month, super impressive. This kid's probably going to go on to make the new open AI like computer science and all this other stuff. It's crazy. To the uh Barcat family, my deepest condolences. Uh I knew her pretty well. She was one of my early supporters, so this was a tough loss and uh she's going to be greatly missed. Um that's all I have to say today. Thank you. Uh, I want to thank the staff members who have resigned this past month. We appreciate their dedication and service to the community and the
092district. I want to congratulate the family as well as the student of the month. Uh, well done. I also want to thank the district staff as well as the board of education for recognizing Miss Bquette. uh deserving person, a very strong willed, kind, compassionate woman. Uh our families go back longer than me and uh I know she's very dedicated to family and we will forever remember her. Uh we appreciate the district's uh recognition of her services. Regarding the school heat, particularly school 8, uh all of our buildings have heat and you must reiterate that uh there have been isolated instances where we needed to make corrective actions and that may have meant you know relocating students temporarily, but uh there are heat there is heat in all of our buildings and uh other than some
093isolated rooms and those are being addressed on an as needed basis and I appreciate uh our administration re responding to those things as quickly as they do. Uh just to reiterate uh Miss Peter's uh note about the many messages that we receive from Dr. Tomco and uh Mr. Leu pertaining to those updates as to what's happening, when it's happening, when it's repaired, and uh any mitigation that's being taken care of. And we appreciate that. And uh those updates are very important to the board. Uh, also I want to thank this board as well as uh this administration for initiating our celebration of America's 250th anniversary. Uh, if you'll notice over my left shoulder, uh, we have a flag that'll be going into each of our schools to uh, celebrate and commemorate the 250th anniversary of
094America. It's a great year from 1776 to 2026. So, uh, with that, I'm going to request a motion for adjournment. >> Mr. Quillis, >> second, >> Miss Peter. All in favor? >> Opposed? >> Ajourned.