001Okay. Uh, we're going to call this meeting to order. So, in accordance with open public meetings, NJSA104-6, adequate notification of this meeting, excuse me, has been provided by posting notice in the board of education administration building and district schools and filing notice with the burough clerk. I hereby call to order, excuse [clears throat] me, the special public meeting, Tuesday, June 23rd, 2026 in the Lincoln Middle School Cafetum, 400 Denellan Avenue at 7:09 p.m. This meeting is broadcast live. For details, check www.denellonsschools.org. Uh, moving on to item number two on the agenda. Uh, roll call. Mr. Pepe, could you please call the role? >> present. >> Thank you. >> Present is not here. We got by the skin. >> That's right. And just as a reminder, five is is the minimum uh to make quorum. Okay.
002So, at this time, so moving on to item number three, executive session. At this time, the Denellan Board of Education will now adjourn into executive session to discuss items that fall within specific exceptions to the Open Public Meetings Act CJ SA 10 4-12B. The confidential matters discussed by the board during this executive during this executive session include items related to individual privacy uh collective bargaining agreements uh pending or anticipated litigation as well as personnel. Any discussion that does not need to remain confidential will be made public as soon as it is practical. minutes of the executive session will not be disclosed until the need for confidentiality no longer exists. All individuals, excuse me, all individuals who may be discussed in executive session have been adequately notified. Action will take place after the conclusion of the
003executive session. >> Move to executive session. >> You beat me to it. Thank you, Mr. Senoi. All right. All those in favor? >> I opposed. >> Okay. We will be back in about uh I don't know 30 minutes or so. Okay, we are back. Uh, looking for a motion to return to public. >> Move to go back public. >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> I opposed. Okay, moving on to item number four. Uh, pledge of allegiance and moment of silence. The flag is over there. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Will you all please remain standing for a moment of reflection and respect for our troops serving throughout
004the world, our troops who have served and our troops who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the name of our United States of America. Thank you. Okay, moving on to moving on to item number five, president's remarks. I did not prepare any remarks but just to say first of all thank you for uh board members for for coming together for the special board meeting. Thank you uh folks in the audience and folks online for joining us as well. I also did want to just say uh you know congratulations again to our um our students who went from 8th grade into high school promotion last week uh at the LMS promotion last week as well as our uh graduating uh senior class. So congratulations to everyone um and it was great to see everybody there. Um,
005okay. I, like I said, I didn't have any prepared remarks and let's just go ahead and move along. So, um, at this time now, uh, moving on to item number six, public comments on agenda action items to be voted on. In accordance with policy 0167, the board of education recognizes the value of public comment on educational issues and the importance of allowing members of the public to express themselves on school matters of community interest. At this time, the board invites public comment on agenda action items to be voted on only. The board and administration will take notes during public comment, but will not provide substantive responses to questions or concerns raised by individual speakers. The board appreciates and welcomes feedback from the community, but is not at liberty to engage in a back and forth
006dialogue with members of the public during this portion of the meeting. Prior to making your public comment, please state your name and municipality. Please note that all statements must be directed to the presiding officer. Uh please come to the microphone at this time if you'd like to make comments on agenda action items to be voted on only. Prior to beginning your comment, please state the action item to be voted on uh that you would like to comment on anyone. Last call. Okay, moving on to item number seven. Uh board action items. Looking for a motion to approve 7 A. Yeah, 7 A. Uh, looking for a motion to approve 7A as a block. >> Move to approve item 7A as a block. >> Second. >> Okay. Open for questions, comments. Okay. Um All right then.
007So at that point at this point now um and last call for questions, comments. >> Okay. Uh Mr. Pepe, could you please call the role? >> Mr. Anderson? >> Yes. >> Dr. Gendrono? >> Yes. >> Mr. Mitchell? Yes, >> Mrs. Moore. >> Yes, >> Mr. Sawanoi. >> Yes, >> Miss Shyf. >> Yes. >> Motion passes. >> Okay, wonderful. Okay, moving on to item number eight, topics for the board as a whole, action items. Uh, this is in reference to our HIB um appeal uh determination um that's on our agenda for this evening. Um so uh I'd like to uh at this time but first of all give for those that are in the audience as well as in public just so that it's it's clear what we're doing here. Um first um I'm going to
008read uh a prepared motion. So we had uh a motion or what two motions prepared. We chose which one we wanted to uh move forward with or at least present. And um after the motion is read, I will look for someone to um move it. Then I'll ask someone to second it if they haven't already. And then we'll open up uh for discussion and uh discuss on this particular issue. And just to note that the language that is in these in in uh these resolutions, uh this resolution, I should say, is language that we have received from our our board attorney. Um so at this time, I'm going to go ahead and read the motion and ask for um for someone to move it. So the resolution uh for 8A goes like this. [clears throat]
009Be it resolved after consideration of the parents appeal held in HIB case 26FAB00001. The board affirms the administration's findings because all of the requirements for a finding of HIB have not been met and directs the superintendent to provide the parents with a formal written decision along with information on their right of appeal to the commissioner of education and then we will vote on this. So, uh, may I have, uh, a motion, uh, for this resolution? >> Move to affirm the resolution. >> Second. >> Okay. Now, we are open for questions or comments. Before we open up generally for comments, I'm going to ask uh Miss Shyf to please read uh so for those that are um in the audience today as well as those folks that are online so that it's clear and you understand
010where we're coming from as we proceed with this. I'm going to ask Miss Shim to read what the definition the legal definition the statute what's New Jersey statute. What is the definition of an HIB? Mich >> 18A 37-14 definitions related to adoption of harassment and bullying prevention policies. Harassment, intimidation or bullying means any gesture, any written, verbal or physical act or any electronic communication whether it be a single incident or a series of incidents that is reasonably perceived as being motivated either by any actual or perceived characteristic such as race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, or a mental, physical, or sensory disability, or by any distinguishing characteristics that takes place on school property at any school sponsored function, on a school bus, or off school grounds as provided
011for in section 16 of PL2010 C1 122 C18A 37-15.3 that subsequently disrupts or interferes with the orderly operation of the school or the rights of other students and that a a reasonable person should know under the circumstances which will have the effect of physically or emotionally harming a student or damaging the student's property or placing a student in reasonable fear of physical or emotional harm to his person or damage to his property. B has the effect of insulting or demeaning any student or group of students or C creates a hostile educational environment for the student by interfering with the students education or by severely or persevering physical or emotional harm to the student. >> Thank you, Miss Chev. Any other board members would like to contribute since we are open for comments or questions? >>
012Uh yeah, I would like to make a comment in regards to, you know, after listening to the information that was provided tonight by the parents, uh it seems that there are issues that need to be addressed. However, this specific incident does not meet the criteria of an HIV and specifically the area of distinguishing characteristic. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Sanoi. Other comments, questions? >> Yeah, I have a comment. >> Oh. Oh, Mr. Pepe, please go ahead. >> So, just speaking on behalf of administration, I just want to clarify for board members and for members of the public, um, that a determination of a HIB versus not a HIB is one thing. A determination that there are actions that need to be addressed that are inappropriate is a different thing. And so the action taken
013by the board tonight is not saying that everything that took place in the incident in question was perfect. That is not at all what's being said. What's being said is that we looked at the definition of the law together. The board determined based on the um information presented that this incident while containing some concerning things did not meet the definition of a HIP. That's all that's being voted on right now. >> Thank you, Mr. Pepe. >> With that, any other concerns, any other uh comments or questions. Last call. Okay. Mr. Pepe, uh could you please call the role? >> Mr. Mr. Anderson. >> Yes. >> Dr. Gendrono. >> Yes. >> Mr. Mitchell. >> Yes. >> Uh Mrs. Moore. >> Yes. >> Mr. Senoi. >> Yes. >> Miss Shyf. >> Yes. >> Motion passes. >> Thank
014you, Mr. Pepe. And just to reiterate what you said, the approving of this or um the passing of this particular motion um more or less is is really just stating that it does not quite meet it does not meet the definition of of an HIV. What we've seen tonight, the evidence that we've we've received in totality. Um but that does not mean that there were not concerns here this evening that but there indeed there were uh and these concerns will be further looked into. So, okay, moving on to item number nine, old business. Are there is there any old business that anyone would like to bring up? I would just like to state uh real quick that uh you know, we have school boards uh New Jersey school boards coming up in October. Um, I
015think we have to start uh working on those details, but just if you're able to join, it's a wonderful uh experience to be able to learn from other educators, other uh administrative folks across New Jersey. Um, what's cutting edge? What's state-of-the-art uh [clears throat] that we could bring back, you know, to our district? Um, but any other old business? Moving along. Uh, new business. I have one, but if anyone else has a any other new business. Okay, so let me just bring this up to you. Uh so, uh new business, unfortunately, um we recently uh had um one of our board members uh had had to resign. Um so with this this sets into motion um an a number of uh actions. Thank you. Um we have 65 days uh from being notified to fill
016this vacancy. So that puts us squarely at probably by the uh by the end of August. Um so we are looking for folks who may be interested in serving on the board through the 31st of December, the end of this year. Um, keep a watch out for posting on the website. It'll be going out in the next few days to give details on what it would entail if you are or know of someone who indeed is interested in uh participating uh in this role for again until the end of uh December of this year. Um, and again, if there is anyone in this room or if there's anyone online or you think there's anyone that might be interested or, you know, please reach out to our business office. Um, and you'll see that also in
017the the communication that will go out uh in the next few days how to to do that. So, just to put that out there, it was it was rather unfortunate, but we do have to follow the the statutes that uh we're held by and um uh fill that vacancy uh within 65 days. So, any comments or questions? Anyone wanted to say anything? Okay. And uh that's all that I had for new business. Moving on to item number 11, public comments on any school related uh issue or topic. So, in accordance with policy 0167, the board of education recognizes the value of public comment on educational issues and the importance of allowing members of the public to express themselves on school matters of community interest. At this time, the board invites public comment on any school
018related issue or topic. The board and administration will take notes uh during public comment, but will not provide substantive responses to questions or concerns raised by the individual speakers. The board appreciates and welcomes feedback from the community, but is not at liberty to engage in a back and forth dialogue with members of the public during this mo portion of the meeting. Prior to making your public comment, please state your name and municipality. Please note that all statements must be directed to the presiding officer. Please come to the microphone at this time if you'd like to make comments on any school rellated issue or topic. >> Is it? >> I got it. I got it. >> Hi, good evening. >> Good evening. >> Um, Lisa Howard, Denellan, do you need my street address? I forget. No.
019Okay, it's one mile. >> [laughter] >> Um, I just wanted to make a comment or perhaps a suggestion related to the current superintendent search. Um, so you know, I've been I've been attending and listening to meetings for the last couple of months where there have been a lot of demands from members of the community um regarding the superintendent position. So I'm not here tonight with a demand, but rather um a suggestion as a former board member and to further um promote transparency in this process. Um, I think it would be helpful to have a section on the district website in the same vein that there's a a section for the construction updates um that outlines clearly outlines the timeline for the superintendent process. um you know having gone through this again as a former board
020member there are a lot of steps and um there's already a lot of questions from the community about how long and you know I know there was an information meeting a couple of weeks ago and that was super helpful but I think it would be really helpful again in the same vein that there's updates for the construction to just have um a timeline um and whatever the consulting or the what is it called the recruiting firm can provide the search firm can provide like the slideshow that was at the last meeting. Any of that I think would help the board um you know continue to be transparent as possible through this process because it is going to be very lengthy. Yes. >> And u we're spending a lot of money and we want to make
021sure that um everyone can get the an the question the answers to the questions that they have. >> That's it. Um the other question I had and this is um related to the personnel section. Are the enclosures available to the public? >> Like the enclosures related to approving personnel? They are on the website. >> They're on the website. >> They're online. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Enclosure uh seven, >> A1, A2, and A1. >> I don't have that. [snorts] >> Pardon me if they're there. I just >> I'm checking. >> Okay. >> I can tell you they're supposed to be there. >> Okay. If not, they'll I I I'm sure they'll be there soon. Um, yeah. So, the only enclosure is I'm sorry, the only enclosure is the board agenda summary, which is on the
022posted agenda. There was a revised agenda posted today. >> Okay. So, the enclosures actually, you know what? No, that you're pointing out something important. The staff, we lost the staff approval list, which was on the original posted agenda, but isn't on here. We got to fix that. >> Got it. >> We'll get it up there. >> To be clear, lost it just on the link, not in existence. Correct. Correct. [laughter] The board members are all >> okay. >> Know what they were approving, but um >> it was on the original agenda and when we >> Okay. >> submitted updated their revised agenda, it wasn't included. Okay. >> We'll fix that. Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you. That's all. Have a good night. >> Great. >> Thank you, Miss Bard. Okay. Uh any other comments, questions?
023Okay. Uh, last call and moving on. So, um, moving on to item number 12, executive session. So, the Denell and Board of Education will now adjourn into executive session to discuss items that fall within the specific exceptions to the OB open public meetings act CJSA 104-12B. The confidential matters discussed by the board during this executive session include items related to individual privacy, collective bargaining agreements, pending or anticipated litigation, um, as well as personnel. Any discussion that does not need to remain confidential will be made public as soon as it is practical. Minutes of the executive session will not be disclosed until the need for confidentiality no longer exists. All individuals who may be discussed in executive session have been adequately notified. action will not take place after the conclusion of the executive session. So we
024have a motion to move into executive session. Please >> move to go to exe >> seconded. >> All those in favor >> I >> opposed. >> Okay. Now we uh we are going to adjourn from executive session. So you don't have to hang out with us. We won't be taking any action. Um our next scheduled board meeting is July 21st. uh so uh 7 pm. Uh but please keep an eye out if there are other uh things that pop out as we are actively in the process of uh you know searching for a new CSA. So thank you everyone. Have a great night.