001Please rise for the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation underyice. The New Jersey Open Public Meetings Law was enacted to ensure the right of the public to have advanced notice of and to attend the meeting of public bodies at which any business affecting their interest is discussed or acted upon. In accordance with the provisions of this act, the Pay County Manchester Regional High School Board of Education has caused notice of this meeting to be published in the North Jersey Herald News, the board's official newspaper, and the record on January 10th, 2025. Notice of this regular meeting indicating date, time, and place were posted for public viewing and posted on all social media platforms within the MRHS community and with the
002clerks in the municipalities of Helton, North Helden, and Prospect Park. Now, be a result that this virtual and in-person board of ed meeting be recorded. Miss Austin, please call the role. Mrs. Emma, >> here. Mrs. Derek, Mr. Auzi >> here, >> Mr. Fischer, Miss Gonzalez >> here, >> Mr. House >> here, >> Mrs. Zamora, Mr. Zen >> here, >> Miss here. Um, at this time, I'd like to ask our new student rep, Mr. Matthew Navarete, to provide his support, please. And welcome >> everybody. I'm very grateful for this opportunity to be here with you guys today. Um to share my connection with students with all you. Um I don't have an actual report down since like school has started yet, but I thought I would share a little bit about myself. Um I'm the oldest
003three siblings and um this summer I've been balancing two part-time jobs and um interning at British credit union and um yeah and also soccer. Uh I hope to develop my public speaking skills in this role as I'm an aspiring aspiring lawyer and plan to carry these skills with me to the courtroom one day. Thank you again for this opportunity and I'm truly looking forward to working with all you throughout the 856 year. >> Thank you and [Applause] I'm tearing but it's not not because of you. It's just that it's it's been a long day, but welcome and thank you for sharing that with us. Very personal. >> Appreciate it. I know that you have to go to soccer practice, so at this time you're welcome to be dismissed. >> Thank you. >> Sure. >> Thank
004you for joining us. See you next time. >> Enjoy soccer practice. >> Okay, we do not have >> Oh, actually we um three events that are happening and held and so um I hope that you know some of us are able to attend um very fun fun events the jazz festival which our um drum line will be participating in that's always lots of fun and held in day and I what was the third one >> national light out >> national oh yeah that's coming up too my goodness everything is just crazy um do I have a motion to >> Oh, no. We don't need to accept. >> Yes. You know what? I removed it cuz originally we didn't have any correspondence. All right. Can I get a motion to um accept correspondence? I'll make that
005motion. >> Thank you. Can I get a second? >> Second. >> Thank you, Mr. Zen. Um any further discussion? Seeing none, Miss Alison, please call the >> Mrs. Emosa. Yes, >> Mrs. Mr. Enuzi. >> Yes, >> Miss Gonzalez. >> Yes, >> Mr. House. >> Yes, >> Mr. Zen. >> Yes, >> Miss Bas. >> Yes. >> Thank you. Um, moving right along. We don't have any presentations for this evening. Um, do I have a motion to approve the minutes from the previous meeting? >> Moved by Mr. Sun and second by Miss Gonzalez. Any discussion on the minutes? Seeing none, Miss Augustine, please call the role. >> Mrs. Moss, >> yes. >> Mr. Eluzi, >> yes. >> Miss Gonzalez, >> yes. >> Mr. House, >> yes. >> Mr. Zen, >> yes. >> Miss Bas, >> yes. At
006this time, do I have a motion to open the floor for public comments on agenda items only? Thank you, Miss Amos. Second by Miss Gonzalez. All in favor? >> Any opposed? >> Anybody from the public would like to speak on agenda items only? One online. Okay. Can I get a motion to close to public session? >> Moved by Mr. House second by Miss Gonzalez. I look right over on the side. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Any oppose? >> Okay, moving on to uh committee reports. I'd like to start by just sharing just a a few updates with you all. To start, I had the opportunity to attend the NJSBA leadership summit for board presidents and vice presidents in Mandville, New Jersey. It was a dynamic day of professional development designed to bring together
007leaders from across the state. The sessions focused on building essential leadership skills, fostering collaboration, and strengthening communication to more effectively guide our district forward. Mr. of yellow and I were also invited to participate in a panel discussion where we addressed key questions about the foundation of the board superintendent relationship highlighting the importance of communication, trust and teamwork. Uh next I want to recognize once again um the incredible success of our recent graduation ceremony which is held in our state-of-the-art performance arts center. I'd like to extend heartfelt congratulations to our administration and all those involved. With only hours to adjust due to outdoor event cancellations by the burrow of Helden and the police department for safety reasons, the team quickly pivoted and delivered a seamless, safe and memorable event. Thank you as well to my fellow
008board members. Your presence and support were truly appreciated and I believe we were all in attendance, right? I think we all were, which which speaks volume um about the unity of the board. Um lastly, I want to acknowledge another exciting event that took place right here in our pack. Um the health and borrow Junior Police Academy. uh fantastic program once again utilized our facilities for training and I'm sure many of you saw the helicopter in town that landed on site. It was quite a sight and I'll leave it to Mr. Coello to share more details about the planning and success of that event. Thank you Mr. Kello. >> Thank you Madam President. Good evening everybody. Hope everyone's enjoying their summer. Um just some some quick highlights um including on tonight's agenda. Uh the summer so
009far is going very well. It's only the middle of July, but things have still been very busy here at at Manchester. The summer programming. Uh we've had 141 students currently participating in some form of learning recovery. Uh the Manchester program extended school year has been operating successfully. Uh football has been up and running for a couple of weeks. We look forward to scrimmages in August. Um, soccer will start getting off the ground in a couple weeks as well. The Junior Police Academy, which has been held here for I think eight years now, happened again, held in Junior Police Academy last week, utilizing uh multiple facilities. And now that we have HVAC as well as a state-of-the-art main theater, they were actually able to have the graduation here as well, which was a nice highlight because
010the parents never got to see physically where the kids were doing all this great stuff for that week. Uh we always had the graduation over at the town hall where there was air conditioning. So uh great event. Special thanks to our SRO uh Omar Zadam um as well as the entire Heldon Police Department for facilitating that program. We had 18 out of about 45 of the students who participated. And because it's held here at Manchester, it doesn't matter if a Manchester student lives in Halen or not, they can participate, which is really nice. And every year we have more and more kids in that program. So that was awesome. Um the army helicopter came uh which always causes a stir. So we do a lot of postings about that. Uh but that was really great
011and there's a new posting about that and the academy up on our website at this time. Um just some important agenda items to highlight. 8.2 dual enrollment partnership with St. Thomas Aquinus College. Uh great job to our administrative team for fostering that relationship over the last few months um to get a dual enrollment program up and running. And a big goal for this year is to get more of those in the hopper. But it's nice that we'll be starting out uh with some courses that have the opportunity to to offer dual credit to juniors and seniors. Um AP psychology, creative writing, chemistry, and TV video production three and four. So, we're hoping to expand that this year, but that's a great thing on tonight's agenda. 8.7 and 8.8 are all about the TV studio upgrade
012and recording uh studio installation. It's really going to be phenomenal. 8.9. Uh we'll install additional lock down buttons throughout the building. Those big blue buttons uh that anyone can press in a public space if there were to be an emergency. Um so that's going to augment our security. 8.9 Oh, excuse me. Uh 10.16, our annual STEM camp will start next week and go until July 31st. That's a great opportunity, a community engagement opportunity because it serves grades six through nine. So any kid in grades six through eight in any of our sending districts um can sign up to attend that and we've been doing that for I think four solid years now. It keeps getting better and better. Um led by uh Mrs. Petar and Mr. Reyes. Um just some other things uh coming up
013here in the um well let me get to that in a second. 11.2 our second semester um SSDS report um is up and has been certified. We had 11 incidents in the second semester. um that included two alleged but not confirmed HIV investigations, one theft, four physical conflicts, uh one student assault, and three CDS incidents, all addressed, resolved, and with follow-up counseling and supports. Um our numbers continue to remain low on a year-to-year basis. Um and our responses continue to be as restorative as possible. Can you give me those numbers again? Two. I got to one theft. It's something that can you give me those numbers again? >> Sure. So, there were 11 incidents uh two alleged but not confirmed HIV investigations, one theft, four physical conflicts, one student assault, and three CDS incidents. >>
014Thank you. >> You're welcome. 11.6. I just want to say that the generosity of the board has always been incredible regarding the Chromebook release for graduating seniors. Um this item is an annual Chromebook release um that lets them take those machines off to college, career or otherwise. Uh coming up uh we have our annual STEM camp again that I already mentioned and 12.11 I believe is Hen Day which will be on Saturday, August 9th held here on our campus. Um, that's always a great event and a great way to get the public here to see what Manchester has to offer. Also, uh, just walked in the door to add to my report. 10.2 under personnel. Uh, Miss Zang has joined us, and Miss Zang is our new computer teacher who's on tonight's agenda. So, I
015didn't realize she was coming tonight, but we always appreciate, um, when an incoming staff member comes to the board meeting. Um, and so she is on tonight's agenda and we're very excited to get computer programming up and running again in our course course offerings. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Coello. Um, Madame Ba. >> I have a question. >> Okay. Thank you. A lot of my report reflects some of the superintendent items. But the first thing I wanted to just note um everyone received the packet today um for our um interviews that will be happening in executive session. Um this was prior um um RFPs that came out that we did for all of our professional services. And I believe I stated in my previous report that we were going to do this as a
016collective effort because this is the board's attorney and we want to make sure that everyone has a say in you know this process. So um you also received in the packet details of each proposal, the fee schedule, questions that we're going to address tonight and then we'll do that later on after all the board business is done. um the capital projects. I wanted to just u make sure that um the board kind of understands that what we're doing right now. Right now we're doing the toilet renovation. We've had um our weekly bi-weekly meeting today. We um spoke with the contract on the progress. We gave our feedback on where we need this project to be before school start and actually way before that. So we are working with the contract. They assured us that everything
017will be up and you know put together and we will monitor that process along with our director of um facilities to make sure everything is moving along and everything is great as of right now. Um the other project that we have going um uh going on right now is the studio room which um Mr. Coello noted on resolution 8.7. Uh that project um had to do with the pipe relocation which that is done already. And just wanted to kind of reiterate that our staff, our custodial staff will be doing a lot of this work. Um so it is saving the district a lot of um time and labor, but um um they are working with the company generations that you guys are used to to help with the equipment piece of that. We also have
018our recording studio. the demo has already demolition already started. The next step is our electrical work and also again our custodians will be taking on a lot of that work on their um on their own to save the district cost and both of these projects are all three of them are expected to be ready for our schools. We will be monitoring the um process of those projects for the next um couple few weeks. what's not on the agenda, which I um I wanted to make the order aware since we're in um a lot of financial heightening all over New Jersey, the district received the extraordinary aid. I um saw the notice today and we re we we got almost 50% of what we more than what we budgeted for. So our actual budget was $200,000
019and our budget um the actual amount that we received was $42,000 $745 which is very 50% more than what we were expecting. So this is a good surplus for us you know to use in the future for um to balance our budget in the future and also to put into capital reserve. >> Yeah. Uh the other thing that's I wanted to note on the agenda was um resolution 12.8. It's the QPA threshold increase. So what that is is that the district is allowed now to make purchases up to 53,000 versus the 44K. The district I mean the state usually does this every few years and we do have tiers to that. And if you have a BA with the QPA, districts are allowed to go um purchase items up to $53,000 without going out to
020bed. So, but there's still some other guidelines. We still have to get a second quote to make sure that we're still in compliance with the purchasing laws, but I just wanted to let explain every to everybody what that was. And um did you mention about the church property everyone? I notice the resolution is on tonight. is um 12 um 23. Um we are moving forward with that process. The um the resident did send us the contract, so we're um getting the resolution done tonight. And he also gave everyone some information about his um current state of um musical interest. So this is from the neighbor from um the property. So you guys look at that. And that's all I have for tonight, unless there's any other item on the agenda that needs some clarification. >>
021Okay. >> Well, thank you. The church property is what location? >> It's on uh Church Street, the the house right in the entrance on Church Street is aligned with the um baseball field. >> Okay. >> It's usually the house where the balls usually kind of come. >> Well, tell them thank you. Yes, >> he's very thankful grateful. >> Okay. >> The board's willingness to negotiate the property. >> Thank you. Thank you very much. >> Um personnel report, Miss Moss. We had a productive meeting on Tuesday evening which really consisted of discussion on uh four uh agenda topics including the appointment of Miss Zang. Uh we also talked a little bit about uh just the process and what to expect uh for executive session this evening with the discussion with potential attorneys for the following years.
022>> Thank you Miss Emma. Um who would like to report on education? >> Thank you Mr. H. >> Uh mostly agenda items. Uh just to note that the 11.9 is a revised policy, the 501 eligibility policy that was seem to keep keep working on for a little while now. Um it had to be revised. There was some legal language that needed to be added because we are a choice school including language that the choice schools will not charge for tuition. Couple words here and there. Thank you, Mr. House. Finance report. >> Another good and productive meeting Tuesday evening. A lot of the items that our superintendent and um and Miss Augustine covered uh were were discussed as well as uh some of our mission, vision, and value statements just being refreshed for uh through 2027
023when he get renewed with our strategic plan. Thank you, Mosquito. Um, community engagement, Miss Gonzalez. >> It would it was just one agenda item. We talked about the STEM camp that will take place this month and and we also talked about the H day, August 19th. >> Thank you, Miss Gonzalez. um ad hoc committee >> mosquito >> we we remain um at the same status as last week. We need to reconvene to to move along on the a day in the life of a year in the life of a board member document as well as a handbook. So we will be reconvening over the next few weeks to begin that work. >> Thank you. um state and county report. Miss Gonzalez, >> there's nothing in the report right now. We're waiting. When September comes, they'll
024have the dates. That's it. Thank you very much. Um moving on to governance. Do I have a motion to approve governance items? >> I'll make that motion. >> Thank you, Miss Gonzalez. Second by >> Second by Mr. House. Is there any discussion on the governance items? Seeing none, Miss Augustine, please call the RO. >> Mrs. Mosquita, >> yes. >> Miss Eric, >> yes. >> Mr. Eluzi, >> yes. >> Miss Gonzalez, >> yes. >> Mr. House, >> yes. >> Mr. Zen, >> yes. >> And Miss GZ, >> yes. >> Do I have a motion to approve contract items? >> Yes, of course, Miss Amosa. Uh second by Miss Gonzalez. Any discussion on contract items. Seeing none, Miss Augustine, please call the vote. >> Mrs. Amos, >> yes. >> Mr. Zerick, >> yes. >> Mr. >> Yes.
025>> Miss Gonzalez, >> yes. >> Mr. House, >> yes. >> Mr. Zen, >> yes. >> Miss, >> yes. >> Uh, do I have a motion to approve shared service agreements? moved by Mr. Sin and second by second >> second by Mr. Hooi. Is there any discussion on shared service agreements? >> They just changed the language a little bit from what Mr. Kio said just to keep uh keep everybody happy. >> Okay. Anyone else? Okay. See none. Most >> Yes. >> Mrs. Eric. Yes, >> Mr. Auzi. >> Yes, >> Miss Gonzalez. >> Yes, >> Mr. House. >> Yes, >> Mr. Zen. >> Yes, >> Miss Bas. >> Yes. Thank you. >> Do I have a motion to approve personnel items? >> Thank you, Miss Amos. Second by >> Second by Mr. House. >> Is there any
026discussion on personnel? >> Congratulations, Mr. Welcome. >> Welcome, Mrs. Thank you. >> Yes. Congratulations. >> Congratulations and welcome. >> Welcome. >> Um I also want to extend uh for Pat Pagani congratulations as we begin a new chapter of SH services with Prospect Park for technology support. This is a great step forward and uh collaboration. So I'm looking forward to that. And also like to take a moment to recognize um 10.10 10 to recognize our dedicated administrators. They're not just here because it's their job, but because they're truly passionate about what they do. And quite frankly, in my role, I'm an event planner and I love my job, but I use every vacation day. And so to see that they have so many days that they've used just really speaks volumes um about their dedication. So
027I I did want to point that out. Anyone else? >> I just the the sending districts for the um STEM camp. >> Um yes, and it's usually filled, but um they'll have a final number by tomorrow. Still open registration. >> Anyone else? Seeing none, Missy disposal. >> Mrs. Amos, >> yes. >> Mrs. Eric, >> yes. >> Mr. Auzi, >> yes. >> Miss Gonzalez, >> yes. >> Mr. House, >> yes. >> Mr. Zen, >> yes. Miss Bas. >> Yes. Big yes. And welcome to Miss Zach. Um, can I get a motion to move education items? >> Thank you, Mr. House. Second by >> Second by Miss Anosquita. Any discussion regarding education? >> The only thing the Chromebooks does um does it come with a subscription or is it does anything the Chrome come with a subscription?
028They just get the machine to hook up to whatever they because it is an internet machine so they can hook it up to whatever network and use it for personal. We no longer are attached to it. >> Anyone else? Any other questions? No. Miss Augustine, please close the bill. >> Mrs. Mosquita, >> yes. >> Miss Eric, >> yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. >> Miss Gonzalez, >> yes. >> Mr. House, >> yes. >> Mr. Zen, >> yes. >> And Miss Bas, >> yes. >> Thank you. Moving on to finance. Do I have a motion to move finance items? >> By Mosquito, second by Mr. Zen. Any discussion regarding finance? >> The $53,000 per up to purchase. Does that include this? >> Well, would that be under that? >> No, because we went out to RFP. So
029the 53 is the cap where we go before we have to go to bed or RV. >> Yeah. So yeah. >> That's the only question. >> Anyone else? Seeing none, Miss Augustine, please call the role. >> Mrs. Eva, >> yes. >> Mrs. Eric, >> yes. >> Mr. M. Yes. Mr. House, yes. >> Mr. Zen, >> yes. And Miss Bas, >> yes. Thank you. Community engagement. Do I have a motion to move community engagement? >> I'll move community engagement >> moved by Miss Gonzalez. Second by Mr. House. Any questions, comments? Seeing none, Miss Augustine, please call the vote. >> Mrs. Amos, >> yes. >> Mrs. Eric, yes. >> Mr. Yes. >> Um, Miss Miss Gonzalez, >> yes. >> Mr. House, >> yes. >> Mrs. Zen, >> yes. >> And Miss Bas, >> yes. >> Okay. So,
030anything is there anything under new or old business? >> This is associated >> I'm sorry. >> This letter is associated with >> No, no. This gentleman um I believe we talked about it before. Um we wanted to just make give you guys this information to um let you the board know that he's looking to rent out facilities for this particular event. >> Yeah. >> He's he's a very prominent person. So that's why I was asking >> and I wasn't going to ask >> he stopped by before the board meeting. >> All right. Just before but he hasn't submitted the actual request. We're working with him to submit the request. >> I just have another little thing to add. So I wanted to take a moment to congratulate Mr. Koviello, Mr. Erlani, Miss Allah, and Miss
031Bant on an outstanding first year in their new roles. So just a year ago, this board faced one of the most important and challenging responsibilities um we had selecting a superintendent. Looking back now, um it's clear that we made a great choice, an excellent decision in promoting this incredible team. I'm excited for what lies ahead and can only imagine the great things that they have for 2025 and 2026 school year. >> That's all I have. Thank you. And please tell my wife that >> second really really you did everyone did an amazing job. >> At least it looks smooth. >> That's why we're here. >> Okay. Um do I have a motion to open the floor uh to the public for any questions, comments, or concerns related to Manchester community? >> So moved. >> Thank
032you, Mr. Zen. Second by >> second by Mr. Auzi. All in favor? >> Any opposed? >> No. Okay. Anyone in the public would like to speak now? >> Want to say something? >> Okay. >> Thank you giving me the opportunity to let me teach computer science. I appreciate it and I will cherish this opportunity. Thank you. Thank you. >> Yeah. Tomor 263 North H Street Pros. Uh you have to excuse me for my absences and uh but I hope to get back in with attending me. I always enjoy coming here. Uh looking at the school, it just it's hard to believe that this facility is almost 70 years old and it looks like it's brand new and they've always taken very good care of it as a compliment on keeping up the tradition. Uh the
033only thing uh not no big criticism but just a recommendation that maybe we put a piece public address system in here because it's very difficult to hear >> you know your comments about what you're saying and so I know even Pros Park we have a public address system to work with. I think that it's it's it's important to hear what you have to say. So draw up such nice sweet voices. But us old people have to turn up our hearing aids. And one compliment too was the road finally. One of the roads bombed out during World War II. But uh finally got that done and that's about all I really have no account. Oh yeah, I do have one question. What what's the blessing situation for how how are we arranging that for the county
034for the county school that goes through here right mistaken and just you know what does a person do because somebody asked me how they get involved. Thank you. >> Yes. Thank you, Mr. McGura. I'll I'll have Mr. Kova ask for that, please. >> Anyone who needs information about any busing need should reach out to our central office. They can call the school's main number here. It would be this facility. All right. Good. So, all right. I've done my tour and again, thank you very much for your job and we appreciate your >> Thank you, Mr. Mccur, for joining us. children of participant. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> I just forgot to mention classes 61. >> All right. >> Okay. Um, anyone else? >> Uh, do I have a motion to close to the public?
035>> Moved by Miss Amos, second by >> Second by Mr. Zen. All in favor? >> Any opposed? Okay. At this time, we will go into executive session for legal counsel interviews. We will be in executive session for 90 minutes and action will be taken. Do I have a motion to go into executive session? >> Thank you, Mr. House. Second by second by Mr. All in favor. >> Okay. Any opposed? >> Thank you. All right. Okay. So, at this time, um I will read our resolution. Okay. That the board of education approved the following resolution. Whereas the law firm of Shank Price has the expertise and experience necessary to provide professional legal services to the board of education. uh and whereas the board is serious of appointing the law firm of Shank Price to provide such
036professional services. Now therefore be it resolved that the board appoints the law firm of Shank Price as board attorneys until the next reorg meeting in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in the agreement attached here to and made part made a part hereof. We further resolve that the board president and board secretary are hereby authorized to execute the agreement and any and all other documents necessary to effectuate the terms of this resolution. Be it further resolved that the board secretary is hereby directed to publish a notice of this award in the official newspaper of the board. >> Does she say has to say as of August 29th? September 1st >> as of as of September >> um as of September 1st 2025. >> Yes. >> Um we have further resolved that uh this
037is for general counsel and special education. >> Yes. Roll call, please. >> Motion. >> I'm sorry. >> I I >> Do I have a motion? >> I do. >> Thank you, Miss Gonzalez. >> I have a second. >> Thank you. >> Roll, please. >> Mrs. Amos, >> yes. >> Mrs. Eric, >> yes. >> Mr. Ms. Gonzalez, yes. Mr. House, yes. >> Mr. Zen, >> yes. >> Mrs. Bas, >> yes. Thank you. Thank you. >> Thank you everyone for attending tonight's meeting. >> I wanted to ask you because we said in special letter, are we keeping our special ed one? I'm confused. >> Okay. >> One second. >> Okay. >> Do Yes. Correct. >> Oh, cuz that's how you Okay. I >> get it. >> That's why we brea >> I'll make a motion to adjurnn,
038madam president. >> And I'll second it. >> Thank you, Mr. Zen. meeting. Um, all in favor? >> Any opposed? >> No. Any opposed? Okay. Meeting adjourned at 10:19. Go ahead.