001[Music] Good evening. Today is Tuesday, June 18th, 2024, and we are at 7:34 p.m. Brian, can we please have roll call? Mr. Grio >> present. >> Dr. Hopkins >> here. >> Miss Inosencio >> here. >> Mr. Jackson >> here. >> Miss Court >> here. >> Miss Maris >> here. >> Mr. Parker >> here. >> Mr. Siobhan >> and Miss Singh >> here. We have a call. >> And just for the record, Mr. Shabban will not be here. He had informed earlier that he is out of state for Eid celebrations. >> And while you're at it, Brian, can you read the Open Public Meetings Act, please? In accordance with the Open Public Meeting Act, public law 1975, chapter 231, Sunshine Law, copies of the public meeting notice were sent to the Courier News, the Home News
002Tribune, the Star Ledger, the Franklin Reporter, Tap into Franklin Township, Franklin Township Clerk Manager, District Schools, Offices, and Associations, PTO presidents, and posted on the district website. >> Thank you. And Miss Maris, can you please lead us in the pledge of 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. >> Thank you. Can I get a motion to adopt the agenda, please? moved by Nancy. >> seconded by Mr. Gripple. All in favor? >> I. >> Thank you. I'm sure we don't have a student representative tonight. So, let's move on to the most special part of the agenda, which is the recognition of our service professionals and support staff. Off to you, Miss Clark. >> Thank
003you. Thank you. Um, so tonight we're here to salute our retirees first and then to thank the representatives from our school connected organizations for their support during this year. The quality of a person's life is a direct proportion to their commitment to excellence regardless of their chosen field of endeavor. So we salute and thank the following individuals who have shared their commitment to excellence and a portion of their lives with the students of Franklin Township Public Schools. I'd like to invite our manager of human resources, Colleen Delaney, to come. Develin, sorry, so many names to remember today. For those of you who don't know her, this is the new manager of human resources. [Applause] First, on behalf of the board of education, I'd like to thank all of our retirees for their service to the
004district. Your hard work, dedication, and positive spirit has truly made an significant impact on the students and staff of Franklin Township Public School District. Once a warrior, always a warrior. Thank you. >> Yeah, >> I'm sorry. If you're here when uh your name is called, please come up and you can greet the board, shake everybody's hand, and then see Mr. Banano. You guys remember him? Um and he'll give you your plaque. Emily Aman, science specialist. Jennifer Bellamy, paraprofessional. Lisa Belleio, special education teacher. John Beyonde, elementary math teacher. Maria Black, Spanish teacher. Samuel Boove Gonzalez, JR OTC, instructor Matthew Fer, art teacher. Albert Fo, principal. Nancy Fiser, kindergarten teacher. Cheryl Frederick, science teacher. Marie Gronado Dah, preschool teacher. Deborah Green. That's okay. Par professional. Susan Lzinski. Elementary teacher. I probably said it wrong. Okay. Lisa Marquette,
005school psychologist. Libby Marx, elementary teacher. Thomas McGlaclin, par professional. Randy Near, preschool teacher. Steven Neely, elementary teacher. Julie Ooa, supervisor of ESL and bilingual education. [Applause] Michael Penn, TV production. Heather Popel, music teacher. Sheri Richardson, social studies teacher. Richard Rowski, computer technical. [Applause] Darcy Saven, academic coach. And a special welcome to Jacqueline Schneider. >> Thank you. >> Karen Smith, Judier, food services. Patty Toma, food service worker. Oh, a nice Yeah. Karen Smith, duty ape. Patty Toma, food service worker. Barbara Trey, language arts teacher. Darlene Verona, nurse secretary. Jacqueline Vazquez, JOTC instructor. Louise Vez, par profofessional. Douglas Walton, par profofessional. Lorraine Wells, special education teacher. Loren Westover, par profofessional. Irish Wilkins, supervisor of elementary math AIS co-coordinator enrichment. And last but not least, Breley Windham Jr., safety officer. And if everyone would like to come back
006up very quickly and take a group picture with the board, that would be terrific. Dr. Logan's going to take the photo for me. >> Come on. [Music] No, no, no. You did fine. No, you did just >> All right. >> Yes. You did very well. >> Warriors. >> Oh, that is a nice. >> Thank you everyone. And remember, retirement may be an ending, a closing, but it is also a new beginning. So to all of our retirees, thank you. May your new beginning bring you all you could wish for and more. >> Folks, before we get to the next group, I just wanted to take an opportunity, if I may, just to say thank you to everyone. Thank you for your years of service. Thank you for your support. I know the board appreciates all
007the hard work and we appreciate you. Thank you for coming out tonight. Best of luck on your future endeavors and if we can ever be of support for you as you move forward, please don't hesitate to call on us. So, thank you. Okay, next up, I'd like to thank on behalf of the superintendent and the board of education the presidents and representatives of our other school support organizations for your dedication, hard work, and support for the staff and students of Franklin Township Public Schools this past school year. So, I'm going to ask if there is anyone here from the Franklin High School PTO, PTSO, if you could come up, say your name and your position, and then you two can shake the board's hand, and I'll have certificates sent to you um through Mr. Demglio.
008>> Thanks, Mary. >> At the end. Okay. Thank you for the cake. I I I appreciate that very much. Uh I'm Wendy Ria. I'm the co-president um at the Franklin High School. >> I'm Deborillo. I am Wendy's co-president at the Franklin High School. [Applause] >> And if anyone is here from the PTSO of Franklin Middle School, either the Hamilton Street or the SGS campus. Please come up, introduce yourself to the group, and shake the board's hand. Good evening. My name is Zena Seday and I am co-president at the Hamilton Street Campus Middle School. Um, and I'm Joti Arvinda. I'm the vice president of Franklin Middle School at SDS. Appreciate this nice gesture that this group has thrown. Thank you very much. Um, is there anyone here from the PTO of Claremont Elementary School? >> Connorly
009Road School. >> Thank you so much. >> Elizabeth Avenue School. [Music] >> Hi everyone. My name is Malai Pong and I'm co-president at Elizabeth Avenue. My co-president couldn't be here. Her name is Heather Warlman. Thank you. Anyone here from the PTO of Franklin Park School, Hillrest School, McAfee Road School? >> Hi everyone. Thank you. I'm Shannon um G, co-president McAfee Road School. >> Hello everyone. Leslie Davies Primo, co-president [Applause] Thank you so much. >> Is there anyone here from the PTO of Pine Grove Manor School? Is there anyone here from the Franklin Athletics Booster Club? Franklin High School band parents. Hi, I'm Marissa Mosley and I'm the co-president of the Franklin High School Marching Band, Band Parents Association. Is there anyone here from the Franklin um Franklin Orchestra parents? Franklin High School Vocal Music Parents
010Organization [Applause] Hi, I'm Nikki Tatum. Thank you. [Applause] Project graduation and the parent organiza parent organization president's council. >> I'm Nick Dembeleio. I thought this was all over last year, but apparently not. I'm still here. Any of you retirees that want to be like Bill Grio and come back after your service, there's a position open, join us. Thank you. Thank you all. Now, if those um present from the PTO or other school of support organizations would come back up and take a picture of the with the board, I would appreciate it. Around Stand. [Music] where you store it. I DJ Amen. [Applause] >> I didn't know [Music] Iris, you got to get [Music] >> Don't make them wait for it yet. There's for the administrators that that have retired, there's a special board resolution for
011you guys. So before you leave, if I could just ask you to sit one more time. >> Miss Sing, are you going to read it? >> Yeah. We're going to read one. Yep. Okay, are we ready? >> Recognition of service of professional and support staff. We just did that. >> I'm just running through the agenda quickly. Okay, here we are. >> Whereas the Franklin Township Board of Education wishes to express its appreciation and gratitude for two retiring employees for their many years of dedicated service in the school district. Therefore, be it resolved that the Franklin Township Board of Education formally recognizes these retiring employees. Whereas a supporter of Franklin Township School District have served as their positions at their schools and during their period of leadership they have demonstrated high standards of leaderships as administrators
012as school employees. Now therefore, be it resolved that the members of the board of education and the superintendent of schools of the Township of Franklin, Somerset County, New Jersey, do hereby take the opportunity to express their deep gratitude and affirmation to all our retiring staff. A true warrior for life for their excellence, dedicated service, and leadership to the Franklin Township Board of Education, school district, and community. Can I get a motion to move this? >> Moved by Nancy, seconded by Dr. Hopkins. All in favor? >> Motion carries. [Music] >> Now you can go and get some cake on the way. >> If you're going to go make a run for it because we're going to start a presentation in about a minute. Okay, we're on to the next part of the agenda where we're going
013to have a public hearing on the student safety data report including internet safety by Mr. Wilson. >> Congratulations. Good evening everyone. >> So, it's my honor to present the student safety data presentation and public hearing for the period one portion of this school year. Period one is that period of time between September um start of school and December 31st. The SSDS report is uh is part this is this the first part of a the state's report on student discipline in all public schools. So, we're looking, we use this as an opportunity not just to focus on suspension, but all discipline and to give you uh some insight into how we use the discipline data and um you know, how we how we use that to help make our schools very safe. Okay. So, our district-wide
014goal um is to in increase academic achievement to meet the social and emotional needs of all of our students through using uh current and expanded programs such as PBIS, um restorative practice, and a number of other programs that are designed to identify students who have particular needs. especially as it relates to behavior and focuses on how we can change those those behaviors to uh acceptable standards. Um and to provide students and staff with a safe environment in which to teach and learn. In looking at the grand picture, the overall picture of discipline in our district for that period of time from September to January, it looks like the three pies that you see on the screen. Okay, the elementary first, middle school, and the high school. The pi, the total pi represents the total populations
015of those schools. Uh so at the elementary level there were 3,584 students 3,58 of them got no discipline referrals. They weren't sent to the office. That doesn't mean that they were perfect individuals, but what it does mean is that they responded to universal uh behavior practices. So the the slice in the pie that you see and uh that slice is is blue and red represents students who received at least one discipline referral. The blue portion of that pie are students who were not suspended as a result of that and the red portion of that represent students who received at least one suspension. Um, I think this is significant to see that help show that in general students in our schools are meeting the behavioral expectations that help enhance their academic achievement. All right. um at
016the middle school. You can see uh and I I want to just point this out because those of you who may have remembered this same pie from last year, you may have noticed that the slice is about the same size, but that there were certainly more students who had result as a result of their ODR had received at least one suspension. This year it is um no, we we've been working on that. It's still a work in progress as you will see, but it is something that we are focused on to improve overall behavior and academic performance. And at the high school, um 2,220 students, 2,48 of them had no discipline referrals. None. And um as you will see the the high school has made some significant gains and addressing um student behavior, building positive
017relationships, helping students to make better decisions. Looking at what those discipline ODR referrals look like. This is what uh and comparing them to the same period of time last uh in LA in the 2000 22 school year. So as you can see significant difference at the high school almost half the middle school as I mentioned is a challenge and was a challenge during the first half of this school year. I think what the some uh what this information did for our EL middle school principles and administrators and our staff was to begin to focus on what we needed to do specifically to address those behaviors. I think and we haven't collected all of the data for the second half of the year, but I think you're going to notice some significant improvement as based on
018that information. And lastly, the elementary schools again um you know a decrease but um and that number is small when you consider the total number of elementary school students in our district. All right. We like to compare what the top five are and this is of particular interest to our administrators because this is what they work on. Uh so if you look at the elementary school u physical aggression was the top. It still is but there's the last um disruption that's the second and um non-compliance obscene materials and language and then um misuse of electronics last year. this year that wasn't on the top five uh but um unsafe materials and and people like ask that question. Well, typically what is unsafe objects? Typically that is student has a pocketk knife in their book bag
019or something. Um so typically that's how it's classified. They don't if the blade is less than three inches it's not really considered a weapon. So, but I want to but we do consider it an unsafe object. All right. At our middle schools, physical aggression topped out our list. Uh, and that was a a concern um for all of us. um disruption hit the sec the second non-compliance obscene inappropriate language and materials and then lastly misuse of electronics. Um in comparison um the numbers are slightly higher in some categories and lower in others but um you know this was an area of particular concern and focus for our administrators and we're continuing to do work in these areas at the high school. I like to point out um that top category cutting class. it is still
020the top category across the board and for almost every the numbers have been dramatically high. However, if we notice that as we compare um last year to this year, dramatic dramatic decrease and we attribute that to some of the um PBIS strategies um and and types of recognition activities that are uh designed to enhance and promote and encourage students to want to be in class rather than to be in those hallways doing other kinds of things. All right. Um >> I need to mention too, thank you that physical aggression while this period time in 2022 school year and 20 uh 23 is also down significantly. So again, the efforts uh of the high school and their administration and their staff are paying off. And you know, I like to point that out because, you know,
021um you don't always see the impact of our PBIS frameworks that district focuses on to change attitude, culture, and behavior. But the work is still work and our our our building administrators and our teachers are really doing a yman's job in in in trying to change that culture. All right. So, I know I mentioned some of those things that we're doing to support students. um you know, mentoring groups and partnering with community agencies like the uh municipal alliance using the youth center. Um the mentoring programs such as the OGE program at the high school, cooking with cops is a partnership with Franklin Township Police Department, Boys and Girls Circle, check in checkout um using restorative practices. Not only do we focus on the negative behavior, the punishment side of it, but the restorative practices uh
022and the uh the techniques that our administrators and teachers are using in this area help students to begin to take ownership and accountability for their behavior and to understand that those behaviors cause hurt and harm to others. And then not only that, but also there's a portion in that restorative practice that says, well, how do we make that right? How do we change that? So, it's very reflective. Um, certainly our Sachs focus on vaping, our partnership with New Jersey uh 4S, which and our our counseling and SEAL services. Although this was not made available during the first half of the school year and is only really being launched now, I thought I would mention this uh new app that is available for our students, for our staff, and for our families. This is a uh
023an app that is free to our community through a partnership um with the New Jersey Department of Education and the um Hampton County Ed Services Commission. Uh the help me app is something and I think the information was is is available on our website and also there was uh information sent home to parents and students uh began receiving information today because we want to make this available to them to use during the summer and will continue to use it during the school year. Uh and what it does, it provides additional supports to students and families who might have social emotional kinds of concerns and problems, who might have problems with food, housing, shelter, bullying, any number of different kinds of things that they can press and get an immediate connection to resources to help them
024address those issues. Correct. Speaking of harassment, intimidation, and bullying, um this is what it looks like for us um for the 2022 school year and comparing that to this present school year. Um interestingly enough, the number of investigations increased. What that tells us is that students and families are comfortable with reporting incidents that they believe are harassment, intimidation, and bullying. Um, and when you look at the uh number of incidents that were actually confirmed. So you look at 72, that's a lot of students who felt that there was something, you know, that they may have been bullied and a lot of investigations. Um, but 18 of those districtwide ended up being confirmed. Um, I would like to just point out and give a shout out to our anti-bullying specialists at all of their our schools
025because they are very adept at in doing those investigations and and making sure that um they're comparing the behaviors to the criteria that the state puts out to help identify bullying behavior. Uh let me point out too while I'm here um because there's the misconception that when we do these HIV investigations that we are identifying bullies. That's not really the case. What we're looking at is bullying behavior and our goal is to change that behavior. All right? And not label students. All right. So what is harassment, intimidation and bullying? Okay. Um the state identifies specific characteristics that our anti-bullying specialists uh use daily. And there are two characteristics that have to be met in order for something to satisfy the state's requirements for harassment, intimidation, and bullying. The first is it has to be motivated
026by an actual or perceived distinguishing characteristic. And the second is that it also has to take place on school grounds at a school bus uh on on the school bus at a school function. And if and it could be things that happen off school grounds, but if it does, it has to seriously impact and disrupt the uh um the orderly operations of the school. So those are two major distinguished uh characteristics that uh must be met in order for behavior to be to fall into uh that bullying category. And it can at least have at least one of these three incidents, uh, three characters of tragedy. The possibility of physical or emotional harm to the victim or the victim's property or the effect of insulting or demeaning the victim. And if it meets either one
027of those, it also probably creates a hostile educational environment. >> Yes, I think that one's batteries. testing. Okay. All right. So, um consequences for instances where a student has been determined to have violated the the district's HIV policy. Um on the first and second offense, um they meet consequences aligned with the student code of conduct. Um and any and all harassment, intimidation violations become part of a disciplinary record. For a third violation and anyone any violations sub after the third um the student is you know this becomes part of their again disciplinary record. Um and the student with the assistance of the parent have to participate in an online course that teaches again the um impact of bullying and the uh helps promote non-bullying behavior. All right. So, what to do if you are um
028feel that your your child is a bully or if you are a student and bullied or if you have a friend that is bullied, the thing to do is to report it to report it to those individuals in your school that can do something about it. Um, I'd like to to to encourage our families and our students to not wait to if you see something and you think it needs to be investigated, report it immediately while the information and the data associated with it is fresh in the minds of of of uh bystanders or u you know people witnessing it uh and so on so forth. Okay. So, one of the things, and I don't know that I will go through each of these tonight, um, but this is something that I we believe is
029very helpful to our community in understanding uh harassment, intimidation, and bullying. We put together a series of about 10 questions that um that are commonly asked when related to incidents of harassment, intimidation, and bullying. Um you know, what is it we just went over? What are the requirements for addressing harassment, intimidation, and bullying off campus? Do parents have the right to deny staff permission to interview a child as part of the HIV investigation? All of these are things that have come up. Uh and we hope that by making these available to people that it would help you to develop a clearer understanding of harassment, intimidation, and bullying. Th that list by the way will be available um and on school websites. our anti-bullying specialist schools will be sharing it. It will also be in our
030student our revised student code of conduct. All right. and moving into internet safety. The Children's Internet Safety Protection Act require school districts to provide education and um safety and consumpt level of monitoring for uh all students who use our internet um or internet. So it teaches internet protocol. Uh in our district, we protect students use of electronic communications by assigning student email accounts um which are processed through the district server that has a filter that blocks inappropriate materials from uh our school-based commu computers. Um, and we use a monitoring system called Linewise that alerts us when students um are attempting to access inappropriate sites when they're doing things that are uh researching things or discussing uh harmful or uh selfharming um activity. So, and we, you know, we say here that we typically try to
031address that the following day, but we have a tiered system. So incidents that are like for example suicide ideiation we would be addressing them immediately and uh we are notified immediately of those uh that top level of concern. Students in grades 3 through 12 are provided education in their classes through assemblies on cyber bullying on the like. And lastly, uh, in our code of conduct, we do outline all of the, uh, protocols associated with protecting students and students use of of, uh, internet and social media sites. Lastly, school districts in New Jersey are required to provide safety drills. We typically do them. We typically have two drills a month, a fire drill and some type of an emergency drill. Um, those of you who are sitting in the audience who have children probably get those
032announcements because we share with them with you when we conduct them so that you know that those drills are are taking place. And I want to say that those drills are uh we don't use similation. So there's no sounds. There's no, you know, uh, fake casualties or any of those kinds of things. Our purpose is to educate students on what to do if there should be an emergency. Um, and you know, the types of drills are non-fire drills, bomb threat drills, active shooter drills that don't have sounds or sights for students to see. lockdown drills and shelter drills. All right. Pretty cool, right? >> And this brings me to that point of questions. >> I'll start from the site. Dr. Hopkins, any questions? Um it seems like that um we are leaving the co era
033behind us and it seemed like um our disciplinary problems is starting to decrease and um the the students is really starting to re-engage with each other in a positive way. >> So there you go. >> More so of a statement than a question. >> Sure. Thank you. Walter, >> uh, no questions. Thank you, Mr. Wilson. >> Nancy, nothing. Erica, >> no question. Thank you, Miss Wilson. Jimmy, >> Mr. Wilson, with um the numbers that we're seeing in the middle school, are we adding more resources to the middle schools to be able to deal with some of the issues that we're seeing, which I'm assuming most of them are socialable probably than anything else, especially with the contribution of the cell phones. >> Maybe I don't know. >> Testing. There we go. All right. Um, a
034great great question. Um, what we are looking at is how how we are using our existing resources and determining what else we need to do. Um, part of, you know, one of the things that our principles have identified is the need for um, instruction and teaching. um like through providing uh assembly programs where uh the focus isn't on don't do but on doing things that are seeing things and hearing uh things that are positive positive school experiences and what those things look like. Um so of course that's a big piece of it and we're looking at how we're going to be able to do that. uh and we started doing some of that in the second half and we look to continue that because we're seeing some positive things happening. Um another huge resource is
035being able to have mentors. Both middle schools are looking at how they can pair up students, especially students who are in like those top tier, tier 2, tier three um who are exhibiting those behaviors who have a pattern. how we can pair them with individuals uh sometimes peers and sometimes some of our adults and address help them to you know change see the need to change that behavior. So, you know, we we're looking at how we're using resources. Um, and that may determine at some point that we might need to get something else. But at this point, we believe we have um it's just re readjusting some of and repurposing some of this the staff uh to address the the needs that we're seeing. But great question. >> Thank you, >> Lori. I just wanted
036to ask Mr. Wilson, are the majority of the suspensions in school suspensions so that they're not missing instructional time or are these out of school suspensions? >> So, that's a great question, too. Uh, unfortunately, a majority of them are out of school suspensions. Um, but we're looking at how we might be able to do it because we also recognize that when students are not in school, they are missing instruction and that puts them behind the eight-ball in terms of keeping pace with their peers. >> Thank you very much, >> Bill. >> I just that you might want to mention that we review all this every time we have security. Maybe you could explain that a little bit. >> Sure. Um, we're looking we're looking at this data, building principles look at this and vice principles
037every month. So, we're breaking down that data, looking at how we might be able to uh, you know, address some areas uh, and identify areas where we might need to put additional resources. The the board of education's safety committee also reviews this data on a monthly basis. to see what kinds of things that they might re uh be able to recommend and also to be able to support uh and show their support to our principles and our schools in addressing these types of behaviors. >> Thank you. I just want to make a statement as well that um thank you for the hard work in putting the report together. I know I am part of the safety committee every other month that we meet and we have um review and we ask all the questions and
038um you know thank you for recommendable job. So now I will ask for a motion to open for public comment only on the student safety data report 3 minutes per speaker. >> Moved by Nancy >> seconded by Walter. All in favor? >> Okay. Comments from the public. Three minutes only per speaker are now open. >> While we're waiting for that, >> seeing no comment, I move to close the public session on this item. >> Or is there >> I'm sorry. While I was waiting for that, I just wanted to recognize Sharon McNeel who is our district PBIS coordinator. Um she works very diligently to help not only continue to train staff and work with those um the the PBIS teams at each of our schools but to help them understand the data and I and
039and work with uh individual staff and our principles in addressing that behavior. should share. Thank you. [Applause] >> Okay. Move to close to public session on this item. >> Motion to close public comment by Bill. >> Seconded by Lori. All in favor? >> I. >> Okay. Public comment section is now closed. Can I get a motion to move A1 student safety data report? >> So moved. >> Moved by Dr. Hopkins. Second. >> Second by Bill. Can we have roll call? Brian. >> Mr. Grio. >> Yes. >> Dr. Hopkins. >> Yes. >> Nosencio. >> Yes. >> Mr. Jackson. >> Yes. >> Miss Leort. >> Yes. >> Miss Maris. >> Yes. >> Mr. Parker. >> Yes. >> Miss Sing. >> Yes. >> Thank you. and I'll quickly turn it over to Dr. since there's no superintendent report
040on the agenda. >> No formal report only because we have taken a lot of your time. So, uh, but I did want to thank Mr. Wilson and his mighty team who put the report together. I want to thank our principles for diligently continuing to work to improve those numbers. I think, you know, we have the ability to see the second semester numbers. you don't yet because they have to be certified by the state and you'll see those in October once we get them back from the state. But I think we're going to be happy when we compare what we saw in report period 1 to what we were able to do in report period 2. And it's due to a lot of the hard work of our PBSIS, Mr. Wilson, and especially our building level
041administrators and teachers and all folks working together. Um, as Mr. As Dr. Hopkins said, "I think we've turned the corner. Um, we're we're we're working back towards what normal school should be like, and we're excited about that." So, thanks, Mr. Wilson. I also wanted to take at least 30 seconds to give Mrs. Mary Clark a round of applause. So, these are wonderful events. We've celebrated a lot over the last couple weeks. We had a special board meeting not too long ago. Got all the days run together. I can't remember if it was this Monday or last Monday. I think it was last Monday. Um it was wonderful. Got to acknowledge a lot of students and Mrs. Clark and her team put all that together. We had a special breakfast for our educators of the year,
042recognizing all of our teachers of the year and our paris um and other certificated staff that work in support roles, thanking them for the wonderful job that they do. a wonderful breakfast all put together uh by Mrs. Clark and our board members were there and our uh teachers of the year and their spouses and guests were there. Um great event again thanks to Mrs. Clark and this does this is not easy to put together. I mean you see the number of names listed on the agenda. Um, that requires invitations, phone calls, constantly following up. Um, getting the cake's no easy feat. I know wouldn't be for me, right? Um, coffee, you name it, she thinks of it. And Mary, I just wanted to say we appreciate it. And, uh, we appreciate all that you do
043to make sure folks get the recognition that they deserve, but you also deserve some of that recognition. So, thank you. And that's it for me. Oh, one more thing. Sorry. I just wanted to make sure because Mary told me to and I don't want to mess this up. Um, graduation. We did push FHS. So, high school graduation, which is typically at 3:00. Due to the weather, and that usually is the heat of the day, we've we're going to start as late as possible, which is 6:00 p. p.m. So, I just wanted to make a public announcement. I know you've all been notified if you're in the high school, but I want to announce publicly that we are delaying the start of graduation. It's the start time of graduation. So, graduation for the high school will
044still happen on Thursday and instead of 3:00, it will begin at 6:00. The students will begin the procession at 5:30. So, your students have been told 5:30. And that's because we're going to start walking them out at 5:30 so that Dr. Solomon begins right at 6 because of course we got project graduation to think about as well. So we want to get it all in but hopefully the sun will be going down. It'll be a little bit cooler or maybe tolerable. So all right thank you. >> Thank you. So I have a short board president's report and I'll try to read it fast. Few things. Our student families have recently been ma made aware of the help me app which they can download on their phone. This app offers a 247 support system for students,
045families, and district employees. The app empowers every member of our district community to seek support whenever they need it while remaining completely anonymous. The app provides a crisis text line with access to trained crisis counselors and the ability to access essential needs and wellness resources. And the best news, as many of you have heard, our own Malia Joy Moon, FHS class of 2020, has won the Tony Award for best lead actress in a musical. Malia. Malia made her Broadway debut in Help's Kitchen earlier this year. We are all so proud of her. I want to pitch in here. My oldest son was also class of 2020 and he was with her in Wizard of Oz. So when I heard the news, I actually did go I have the poster hanging in my basement all the
046place that he's participated with her and I was like I kept looking at her and I'm like wow she's g come a long way. So really felt proud. One last recognition of this year's fine visual and performing arts students who missed the cut off for our special board meeting last week. Earlier this month, our middle school students competed in their annual music in the parks festival. All four groups, jazz band, wind ensemble, competition koer, and competition orchestra, received a superior rating, the highest possible rating, and finished in first place in their respective divisions. Additionally, the wind ensemble and competition orchestra placed first among all bands and orchestras competing in the festival regardless of their division. Finally, Samson G. Smith student Aola Fabua received the outstanding soloist award for his solos in the jazz band performance.
047We are very proud of our student performers. We are also proud of the 61 graduates who will be recognized with a New Jersey seal of biiteracy certificate for their language proficiency in English and another language this year. These languages include Italian, Turkish, Japanese, Hindi, Latin and Spanish. And finally, I look forward to cheering these graduates and their classmates at graduation this Thursday. That ends my board president's report. And now I would like to again ask for a motion for comments from the public. Five minutes per speaker. Agenda items only. >> Moved by Nancy. >> Seconded by Lori. All in favor? >> Comments from the public is open. Five minutes per speaker. Agenda items only. >> Seeing no comments. I move to close the public session. >> Okay. Motion to close by Bill. >> So second,
048>> seconded by Dr. Hopkins. All in favor? >> I. >> Okay. Comments from the public are now open. And since this is our last meeting of the summer, I will request that we will table committee and liaison reports. They're all on the website. So please spend some time and read those. And we will quickly move on to new business. Thank you. >> Okay. >> Like to make a motion to move R1 monthly reports. M1 minutes of board meetings. A2 travel and related expense reimbursement. A3 affirm harassment intimidation and bullying decisions. A4 donations which includes a $750 donation from Mr. William Fryberg to be used by FHS Dance as a Broadway Star sponsor. and a donation of $2,000 from Sustainable Jersey for the purpose of grant specific items. A5 NJSIA membership. A6 shared services agreement. A7
049revised policies. A second reading. A8 revised policies adoption. A nine revised policies first reading. A10 facilities use. A11 memorandum of agreement. Bright sty bright smiles bright futures program. A12 adult educationou with hunter county ed services. B1 warrants and payrolls. B2 financial reports. B3 contract approval A through Z. So you got it all. Uh B4 change orders none at this time. B6 U FY2025 payment of claims. B6 transfer excess revenue or unexpended appropriations. B7, vendors exceeding bid threshold. B6 or B8, authorization to award contracts. B9, procurement of goods and services through state agency and cooperative purchasing programs. A10, agencies for purchasing. A1, Huh? >> B10. >> Oh, sorry. B10, agencies for purchasing. It's right in front of me, too. B1, adoption of the 2025 amended school budget. Um B12 2025 bid contract renewals. B13 receipt of
050bids student transportation services. A14 award of bid student transportation services. B15 receipt of bid school-based health clinic. B16 prek uh toilet room compliance with and waiver application. C1 out of district students for school year 2023 24 and 2425. C2, field trip destinations. There's none at this time. Uh C3, field trip applications. Uh C4, Perkins grant. C5, LAP three-year program plan. C6, additional summer offerings and programs. C7, summer AP chemistry program for option two students. C8 bilingual program waiver. C9 NJDOE expanding access to computer ser. C10 NJ DOE uh teacher climate and culture innovation grant. P2 increment withholding and P3 personnel report dated uh June 18th 2024. So that's R1 A2 to A12, B1 to B16, C1 to C10, and P2 to P3. Once again, motions on the table for R1, M1, A2 to A12, B1
051to B16, C1 to C10, P2, and P3. Can I a second? >> Second by Bill Brian, can we have roll call, please? >> Mr. Grim, >> yes. >> Dr. Hopkins, >> yes. >> Mr. Oencia, >> yes. >> Mr. Jackson, >> yes. >> Miss, >> yes. Miss Harris. >> Yes. >> Mr. Parker. >> Yes. >> Miss. >> Yes. >> Thank you. >> Now, can I get a get a motion to move P1 FTEA successor agreement? >> Make a motion to move P1. >> Motion to move P1 by uh Walter, >> seconded by Nancy. Brian, can we have roll call, please? Mr. >> Yes. Dr. Hopkins, >> yes. >> Mosio, >> yes. >> Mr. Jackson, >> yes. >> More. >> Yes. >> Miss Maris, >> yes. >> Mr. Parker, >> yes. >> Miss, >> yes. And I
052would like to congratulate our FTEA for doing a phenomenal job and the personnel committee. We have now a memorandum of agreement for terms of a successor agreement between the board of education and the Franklin Township Education Association for the school years 24 2024 2025 through 2028 2029 as previously reviewed by the board of education in close session. Congratulations [Applause] And >> I did say that. >> Yep. >> Okay. And now we're on to comments from the public. Five minutes per speaker. Any topic. Can I get a motion? >> Moved by Nancy. >> Seconded by Lori. All in favor? >> I >> Thank you. >> Welcome, Mr. Mayor. >> Yes. >> Good evening. >> I'm Dan Mayor. I am the president of Franklin Township Education Association. I stand here tonight wrapping up my 21st year as
053an employee of Franklin Township Public Schools. This is where I started and this is where I plan to end it. Many things have changed over those years both in our district and in the world of education. Some good, fortunately, some bad. But without reservation, I I say that what we accomplished here tonight will have positive ramifications for our students and this district for years to come. I want to thank all the members of the personnel committee for their time and dedication over the past several months and of course thank all the board members for sharing in a common vision and goal of the FTEA. Reaching this point in time of negotiations process is never guaranteed. But through our mutual commitment and dedication, we have helped secure the best possible future for our students and for
054this district. I am proud to be a part of this and thankful for everyone who helped it come to fruition. Thank you. [Applause] >> Nick Degleio again. So, I want to thank on behalf of the Franklin Township Parent Organization, President's Council, uh, Dan Mayor, and the FTEA for their support for another year for the PTO, PTSO organizations. They contribute to the teacher appreciation week by donating to each school building so that we can expand on what we do for the teachers. So, we thank you for doing that for I think it's our second year, but thank you very much to you and the FTEA. >> Anyone else to close the public session? >> So, second. >> Second. >> Brian, you got that. All in favor? >> I >> Okay. And we're now on to the
055good of the order. And I'll go from my right, Miss Inencio. >> First of all, I will say, can you guys hear me? Okay. Um, just again a huge um thank you to um our retirees tonight. Um just enough can't be said for just the talent and dedication of the teachers in this district. I continue to be impressed on a regular basis. Um my daughter's prek teacher is retiring and was here this evening and you know I'm trying to hold back my tears. Another one that we will just miss dearly. But again we just wanted to express my my gratitude um to the many years of service uh combined of of all of these um professionals. Um, and I we've already congratulated Malia Joy Moon, but that was just an exciting um thing to see
056my daughters. I let them stay up so they could watch it and uh it was worth it. Um, so just really proud of her. Um, and that's just again another shining example of the talent coming out of Franklin Township. So just a lot to be proud of. Um, want to wish everyone a happy Junth tomorrow and um, just excited for graduation. excited to see our high school graduates. That's it. Thank you. >> Thank you, Jimmy. >> Um seconding those comments, uh one of the things that uh and it's actually personal to me is actually all the work that we don't see uh that our instructors do and it is truly a blessing. You guys are doing God's work and we really appreciate that. um developing our children, creating memories that will last a lifetime. Um
057without struggle, there is no progress. So, thank you so much. Really appreciate everything that you do on a day-to-day basis. You take it home, you take it with your families, and you come back and you give us the best that you have. So, we appreciate that tremendously. Um happy Junth as well. Um it is uh a pleasure and a tremendous privilege I think to be in a township uh that is so diverse and that appreciates everything that everyone has to offer. Uh and as I travel around the state of uh New Jersey, I don't get to see that often everywhere. And so I want to make sure that that we appreciate it um and that we pat ourselves on the back a little bit to let each other know uh how grateful and gracious that
058we are. So Thank you, Lori. >> I want to say thank you to all of our staff, our teachers, and the support staff that have educated our students this past year and made fabulous memories for them. I also want to thank our retirees and wish every a very happy and safe summer break. Rest up and be ready for next fall. Be well. Thank you, >> Bill. >> So, I I think Nancy and Walter are going to like this. >> Okay. >> What happened with Malia to the world was major. What happened for Franklin Township was spectacular. FTEA, you're here tonight with the greatest award on Broadway. She thanks the Franklin teachers. I mean, this is major. This is like one of our high school baseball players gets drafted by the Yankees and hits the final
059home one in the home series. We'd have a parade. You know where I'm going with this. We must, Madam President. And that's why I say Nancy because Nancy I know will jump right on this. And Walter was there when I worked with his wife when the lady warriors and we celebrated them and moved the whole district. We took the took the team to every school. This can be done. A celebration and a recognition can be done jointly with council. I was sitting next to the mayor tonight. I didn't open my big mouth cuz I figured I should do it at the board first. But with the council, the board of education, FTEA, chamber of commerce, because this affects business. To have this kind of a school system affects business. This is no joke. This is
060a young girl that is on her first show and moves the country. Millions of people watch that. And she said, "Thank you, Franklin. Thank you, my teachers." >> How about that? >> This is I mean, I'm moved by this. So, I I don't know where we go with this proposal, but I'd like, Madame President, to uh think about it to uh maybe form a task force with Nancy, myself, and Walter or whoever you want, but and speak to the council and we can find a way where Malia might have a few hours in September because you'd have to have the students here to have her speak in the auditorium. You have to have a joint meeting with the council for a joint resolution. And like we did with famous Amos 1983, I I I brought
061him in by helicopter to promote reading at the library. And at night we had the proclamation at a dinner like a person of the year, you know, Malia Joy Moon Day. It's significant that our music program for decades that I've been here has been stellar and now to achieve this does not happen in every district. Name me a high school that has a kid who won a Tony Award. This isn't the Paper Mill Playhouse award. I mean, which is great. This is the Tony Award and it's our student taught by your teachers guys. Tim Walton, uh, my dear friend who I hired, Terry Sio, we need to move on this. Thank you. I know I've always had a border, Madame President, but I hope you consider what I'm saying. And and I hope you talk
062to Nancy about it cuz I didn't even talk to Nancy, but she agrees 100%. I And Walter Walter's wife was in tears when we celebrated those girls. If you could get Malia Moon to stand on a high school stage now to 2,00 to,200 students and inspire them. This is what we have to do. Those teachers brought her to the threshold that she's at. So, I don't have a press release for this, but this just comes from the heart. Thank you. >> Thank you so much, Dr. Hopkins. >> Wow, that's a tough act to follow. >> Um, just to uh echo Bill, Bill um spirit behind this and like you why the coals are hot to um she showed her love to Franklin and Franklin needs to show their love back to her and um let
063the young ones aspire. Why not them? if she could do it, why not me? >> But um I would like to um recognize and look forward to tomorrow with Junth um special day um of um my ancestors are being um announced that slavery is over. So um big ups for tomorrow and with all the um committees with the teachers with the uh PT uh SOS it shows that it takes a village um um piggybacking what Bill is um saying that Thursday is graduation of our senior class and uh we close another chapter but the only way we could close this chapter is with our village pulling together and um feeding the the the jewels and the the food of nurturing our young ones to progress to graduation. And of course, um it's always a milestone
064for me to see um our uh classes go through because it is is a milestone to what the teachers have put into the staff, the uh everybody who is um uh um nurturing our kids. And um uh I would be proud to shake the hands of the class of 24 and close that chapter and and then it's time for 25 to step up. But um yeah, U Bill, you you're a hard act to follow. >> Thank you, Walter. Uh, congratulations again to all the retirees, all the Franklin absolutely amazing teachers and staff and security staff and support staff that we have in Franklin. Franklin is very, very, very, very, very, very special. Um, I had the opportunity with um, excuse me, Miss Delisero, I think it was June 9th, she took about 80 Franklin nights
065to see Hell's Kitchen on Broadway. And um after the show was over, Malia came and just the way that she embraced some of her old teachers and some of the students that she actually w was in plays with back in the in the day. She was just so humble. Um to be on this stage, but to still remember where she came from was very important and and as you guys all witnessed, she let the world know where she came from. Frank Franklin Strong. She was very proud of where she came from. Um yesterday I had the privilege to accompany Miss Delisero and the dance company. Um they partic they they were at the New Amsterdam Theater on Broadway. They performed for Arts for Autism and they were phenomenal. I'm not just saying this because you
066know they were Franklin. know they to actually I mean there were schools from Texas and North Carolina but to actually see these other schools say no you guys were the best Franklin you guys were the best like you were and just to compliment them and of course I think they had rehearsal earlier that day so of course all the Franklin nights let everybody know about Malia so that's just took their stock to a whole another level at that point but when the show was over just to see them go off on the bus and as you all know we are one of the most diverse districts But to see these other schools who don't look like us, but to wave us off as if we were celebs, like they were chasing the bus down like,
067"Oh my god, what's your Instagram like Franklin?" Like it was just it was it was so it was so cool. The energy was so high. So I am absolutely proud to um be a Franklinite to have raised my three daughters in Franklin and to have some absolutely amazing teachers that they will never forget because that's what it's about. You guys do what you do. I know you have your days, you have your moments, but you stick in there and you make an impact and you change lives and the lives that you change change lives and those lives change lives. So, I just want to kudos to all the teachers and and everybody who's a part of something in Franklin because we all a part of this. Um, Thursday is graduation. It's going to be a
068hot one, but hopefully by 6:00 things will cool down. So, congratulations to all those who who made it, who will be graduating on Thursday. Um, be safe this summer. Um, stay out of trouble this summer. Be positive and and do something positive and and while you at it, um, have a few have a few racks. Um, Tiana got me hipp to doing racks a few years ago. Um, random act of kindness. And um I think this summer if we all could take an opportunity to do a few racks uh we will once again make this world a better place. >> Thank you. >> And the tents are going to be airond conditioned. Dr. Rali told me >> Chamber of Commerce. >> Moving on to Nancy. >> Okay. Um so to all of our retirees, congratulations.
069throw away your alarm clocks and just enjoy your next chapter in your lives because it's pretty good. Um, to all of our school sponsored organizations, it really does take a village. Um, I appreciate that more and more and more every single year, how everybody comes together, how there's friendships to be made, um, connections that that could go on for, in your case, Nick, forever. Um, thank you to all of our everyone that works in Franklin. That's part of the um um the village. And to them, it's not a 9 to5 or 7 to 237, right? Or 7:30. I can't even tell you what time school starts because I don't have an alarm clock because I'm retired. Um but it's not um you know just in the confines of of their contract. Their their days continue
070long after. It takes a special person to be an educator. Um and I really appreciate that and I've um so thank you guys for a phenomenal contract um and a phenomenal collaboration that we all have together. And it's not just FTEA, it's FTSAA and FTASA. >> Oh my god, I got it. And and all of our non-aligned it it's it's everybody coming together and working cohesively. Um and we're really fortunate. So to your point, Walter, we're really fortunate to be able to provide our kids a lot of opportunities. And um because I always ask kids what's or I ask people what's the best thing about Franklin? Everybody says diversity. So it's like what's the second best thing? And um it's the opportunities and it gives them a chance to soar. And so many of our
071kids soar. So to the class of 2024, we gave you the tools. Now let it be your best year. Um, and Kalia Johnson will be performing on Broadway as Judith and Juliet. So, check that out. Congratulations to her. And um I had the the pleasure of um of a watch party with PJ Parker and and Terry Soio, Cherylyn Strand, and Tim Walton who had the most beautiful ugly cry I have ever seen. Right. Um, and it it was those people. It's not just those people, but I mean Malia said it. It's thank you to my teachers. Thank you to the people that helped me find my talents. And that's basically what you guys are doing is you're pulling out the talent that you don't even know that you have. So, I really appreciate that. Um,
072and Franklin definitely does have a kaleidoscope of talent. Um, Alicia Keys reference. And so nights like this, they belong in the Guinness. Nights like this never want them to finish. Don't wait for the end. Let's start a beginning. Better to be better to be alive than just to be living. It's like I listen that song over and over and over again. I wasn't going to sing it. No, because I Yeah, this room will clear out in two seconds, but Malia does a much better job at it. And but it's a good message. So with that, thank you and thank you for closing out this school year. And I'm done. >> Thank you, Nancy. So, in closing, you can see um you know this team here. There are everything that each one said, I can say
073ditto. I don't have to repeat everything, but I want to thank all the retirees. I want to thank all the school connected organizations. I was a PTO mom like some of you sitting here and now I'm here behind this desk. Um it's a journey and it's a beautiful volunteer journey and this is the reward that we get. We don't get paid in cash or check that comes to our bank but this is the reward. It's seeing these teachers that have been part of our children's lives. It's seeing the children that make friendships and seeing Malia, you know, one of my son's friend who is at on Broadway now. It's it's these little things that become big things and that's the reward we get. Um some of the teachers, some of the students will be working
074during the summer. They don't get a break. Our administration will be working during the summer. So, happy breaks to those who will be able to get a break and think of those people who will still be working during the summer. Wishing everyone well. But I want to give a shout out to Ryan from NJA. I have met only two people from NJA during my time in the education world. Um, one I'm sure Ryan you know her, Deborah Carnavvesa. I can't pronounce her last name. She's your director of government relations. She sent me a handwritten beautiful note when we sat together and had dinner a few months ago. There is there is like a scary thing that if NJA becomes part of negotiations, it's you know scary and hard. Such a wonderful person that I met
075and we had real good conversations. So, I want to shout give you a shout out. Thank you so much for making it such a phenomenal process that we're here today, Brian. Sorry if you had some moments of anger and discussions, but you know, I really wanted to call out Ryan. Um, I think this is the relationship we have as a board with our teachers that even though we have disagreements, we come together and we come together as family, as friends. That's what makes us Franklin strong. So, let's keep that relationship. Let's keep that positivity in our town and stay Franklin strong and meetings are joined. [Music]