Bridgewater BOE Meeting 09/9/2025

001we had to discuss. I appreciate your patience and uh we're going to start off with uh the superintendent report which will be here shortly. Okay, good evening everyone and uh this evening I I want to take a moment to introduce Mike Archer who is the director of transportation projects for the center of effective school operations. um through an RFP, I should say. The district put out an RFP uh to get services from a consulting firm to help us with our transportation services um uh to work with our routes uh for the upcoming school year. As you know, 2026 27 is going to represent profound change for the Bridgewater Ritan Regional School District. We are shifting to a full day kindergarten program across the district. our fourth graders are shifting to the intermediate school and our

002sixth graders are shifting to the middle school. So, so essentially for the 2627 school year, we're starting with a a blank piece of paper, so to speak with all of our transportation routes um that that we currently run. And we we have a pretty large operation. Currently we run 83 buses and many of them are triple route. So so we are looking at on a daily basis in Bridgewater Ritton we run somewhere around 240 bus routes throughout the districts to take our kids to and from school. So this is this is a large piece of the puzzle for next year and and and again this is all due to the referendum. So tonight, Mike is going to present to to the board of education as well as the community the options that that we are

003looking at for the 202627 school year. And I believe it was a year or two before I uh I came out came on as the district superintendent, the the board of education did pass a resolution that they would seriously take a look at at school start times. All right. And and I know the the district was on their way to to moving towards a plan and then COVID hit and as we know the the world changed. Uh we're we're still dealing with the residual effects of CO and and CO as we know had a profound effect on our transportation systems, right? And it's not just in Bridgewater, but really across the uh the state of New Jersey where all of a sudden we dealt with driver shortages that that we had never seen before. So,

004we thought and and we've we've uh debated this and and uh set a schedule that the best time to really explore these options would be for the 202627 school year because the last thing you would want to do is change a school schedule and then next year you change it again. So, the time frame we're looking at is as follows. We're going to look at um options that are going to be presented by by Mike. And then what we're going to do is is um after his presentation, the board of education will ask questions um if if you have any and then we'll open it up for public comment but on this topic only, right? to to keep the conversation to transportation and and then as a as a whole we need to we need

005to make a decision by the end of the month and the reason for that is as follows. Once once uh Mike and his firm understand what we're working towards now they do the difficult job of developing routes figuring out how to make the whole operation work and really get into the nuts and bolts of it. And that has to all be completed really by January because that's when we put these routes out to bid and and typically we have contracts approved in March or April for the following school year. So again, even though it's the first week in September or the second week of September, I should say, um time is of the essence right here. So, I know I've gone on way too long, so I I want to turn the microphone over to

006Mike Archer from the Center for Effective School Operations. >> All right. Thank you. And uh thank you members of the board for having me tonight. Um just a quick summary for some of the work we've been work u doing over the last I'd say 10 10 months or so. Um just gonna start here with a now it's not Um just a quick summary of transportation. Um 83 buses operating daily. Uh these these operate in five tiers. Uh so each building group of buildings um has its own unique uh start and end time. There's five unique start and end times. Not every bus has a trip on each tier. So buses aren't doing five trips. Uh they're typically doing either two or three. So they're picking from those five different start times. Um there is capacity

007throughout the network. Um by that I mean there are available seats on the buses. Uh right now there's there's a constraint um placed by the schedules of the schools and and how buses need to get from place to place. Um the reason we say there is capacity the average bus route today has 33 students uh assigned to it. Um statewide New Jersey has a policy where there's a ceiling on bus capacity at 55 passengers. So, we know there's a few empty seats if you take the average across the whole fleet, but again, it's a it's a timing constraint right now. Um, to add to this complexity of tiering and scheduling, uh, three different vendors provide transportation services, plus the district owns its own buses and and and, uh, employs its own drivers. So, there's essentially

008four different transportation providers operating daily in the district. Um, like Bob said, uh, new schedules, the result of that will be new routes. um and potentially new vendors who are interested in operating these routes. Uh we'll find that out u when we go to bid in winter of this school year. Um some additional considerations um sort of an impetus for doing this blank slate routing. You know, we know that enrollment is very slowly declining year-over-year um but the total fleet has increased in in the last several years. Uh so, you know, there was need for a blank slate redesign of routes. um hasn't been done in several years. Um so the results of this preliminary analysis was that we we believe we can pull some buses away from the high school fleet. Uh we estimate

009six buses. Um the the driveway as as we all know is full of school buses. Um and so to to drive some efficiencies into the high school routes, uh we we do understand that the existing fleets can accommodate full day kindergarten and can accommodate an additional grade at the middle school. Um, like I mentioned, there's currently five tiers. Not much time in between the start and end times. Uh, thus the buses don't have a lot of time to complete pickups and drop offs. Some cases they're late to get to their subsequent route. Um, so what what could that look like if there were additional times, which kind of fed into some of our original options that we we worked it down to two, but there were some other ones where we added uh a lot

010of time for the buses to do their thing. Um so each option has been modeled in route management software. It's the software that is used uh to manage bus routes uh in the transportation department. It's called Versatrans. Um in order to determine the fleet size and other transportation implications of these options if they were to be implemented. Um so we're we're currently in the second week of school. transportation is still a little bit crazy and hectic and and new students are are submitting their their new addresses and and bus stops are being added and things like that. So, it's really tough to take a snapshot of current transportation. Um, but over the next couple of weeks, I'll be working with Kathy, the transportation director, to uh to make sure we get the accurate data and

011we can feed it into these models. Um, just some other considerations, explanation for our process. uh we we kind of rolled over the grades so that we can look at next year. Obviously, we don't have kindergarteners. We don't know where they live, but we can make an estimate based on enrollment patterns. Um then the bus roster, the current bus rosters are updated with that new number of students. Um and then also the grade adjustments and things like that. Um so we can get a better sense for who how many students will be riding on on each route. Um so from there we identify different routes or clusters of routes or regions throughout the district that there are routes that could be redesigned. Um we're also changing the times and changing the sequence of start times

012and so certain bus routes are designed to go in a particular direction in the district. Um that may change if they need to go to another school, a different school than they currently do uh as for a subsequent route or tier. Um, and then we're also holding space for pattern changes. Whenever there's a schedule change or belt time change, um, there's there's always patterns that that change in the wrership. Um, currently there's some parents may drop off students, they may not be able to drop off students in a new schedule, so they may ride the bus and vice versa. There there could be students that ride the bus and and now their parents can drop them off. So, we don't know exactly what those changes are going to be. So, we're conservative with our estimates.

013Um and then all special programs held at at specific school buildings. Um so if you know there's various programs that maybe students attend from across the district, they go to a a specific building for that. Um all the routes are are maintained. Um we didn't make any adjustments to those or cut any buses there. Um so we're talking about new bus routes. In some cases, these routes have been in place for many, many years. um same time, same bus number, same driver in some cases. So, we're looking at potentially new pickup and drop off times, uh a new driver, a new bus number. Uh we know that this can and create some confusion. Uh so, there will be a lot of communications over the summer of 26, uh including some in uh update or or

014rolling back of the time frame where bus information will be released to parents. So, it will be done earlier next year. Um, another another consideration that was discussed in some of our internal meetings was um picking up and dropping off in darkness. You know, we're right now we're fine, but in 2 months it's going to be dark at 4 4:30. So, um, just taking that into consideration where um, you know, there's bus stops that are lit or, you know, in a safe location to be uh, dropping off in uh, at dusk. Um, and and then just shortening the routes if need be. Um, it's a draft for now. We're confident in our estimates. However, there may be some slight changes after the analysis of this current transportation is complete. So, this is what we've been

015referring to as option one. Um, it's very close to what was in place several years ago before COVID. Um, it brings a uniform schedule for all primary schools. Um and then um the big thing for me for logistics is you know there's more time in between the first and the second tiers uh in order to redesign bus routes and to drive some efficiencies into the transportation schedules. Um this may result in an increase of the fleet um somewhere in the neighborhood of four or fewer buses. Um but just to make note of that option two uh the middle school starts earlier than the high school. Um there's some strategy involved in this from a logistic standpoint. Um the very there each each school level has a different length of day. Uh primary is 6 hours

016and 20 minutes, middle school is 6 hours and 40 minutes and high school is 7 hours 7 hours and 1 minute uh under this new schedule. Uh so this causes some scheduling issues where bus routes work in the morning uh but don't in the afternoon. Uh so here you you can see um if you follow the the graphic I know it's it's a lot of information but um you'll have to link you'll have to link um buses in a different way where maybe the first year's middle school only but then it's middle school and intermediate dismissing around the same time in the afternoon. Um and then the second tier could be high school and intermediate in the morning but then just high school in the afternoon. So, not to say that those students will be

017riding on the same bus, but just that fleet of buses will be active at the same time. Um, so it's it's similar to option one where we're looking for more more time for the buses to operate uh get more students assigned to them, utilize the seating capacity that we have, thus creating some efficiencies. Um, but and this one can can be accommodated without the addition of any additional fleet or cost for transportation. And so that's that's really it for my presentation. Um this slide just has the current schedule and then the two options. Um so I'll kind of leave this up um as we take questions. Excuse me. And one one of the things I I failed to say prior to uh kicking off the presentation to to Mike is that both of these options

018reinstate the lost instructional time from four years ago. Right? That was one of the parameters when we went into this to make it as one to make it as costneutral as possible, but two to make sure that that we reestablished the minutes that were lost um at a couple of our schools. Uh because of the transportation crisis four years ago that we had we had a flood and transportation crisis. We had to reroute our buses. We we did a whole bunch of things. Actually, it was Dr. Fonder and uh Jason Moriello who who did a lot you know working with other folks to to make this happen but um you know that it's a bad memory that's in the deep recesses of my brain but um anyhow um but if if anyone had kids in

019school at that time you'd have to reme you remember that abruptly we changed start times and and all that for several schools and we actually had to cut some some time I know specifically ally the high school lost 20 minutes of their day with with the rerouting of buses. So option one and option two brings us to where things were four years ago or I should say five years ago. I'm sorry. >> Other questions from the board, >> Mr. Jersey? >> No, no, no, no. You you go. Um couple of things. Uh the bus differences, the number of buses between option one and two, how many is that? That's about >> four or six. >> Four. Four we believe would would be needed for option one, but then option two we we think can be

020done at neutral. >> So no no change. >> All right. Um the other questions I have is many towns have you know a central location where kids are dropped off and picked up just to consolidate routes and timing and all of that. Did you look at that at all or not? >> I I think in in certain areas that might work in certain areas it it may not. Um certainly by the way the policy is today um there's there's a lot of areas in the district and I've spent the past two days driving around and and observing some dismissals and and buses and things like that. But um it's it's tough. It there's a lot of rural and uh hilly and curvy roads and so in some cases where students can't get to that central

021location, there's a lot of home stops. There's a lot of driveway stops. Um and so that's been a practice that that has just gone on. Um and in in most cases we're not disrupting that. Um in some cases where there is there are sidewalks there there's a more dense population. I I think that's very possible. We've included that into some of our models where um there's there's kind of a a happy medium where you you don't want too many kids at a particular stop because then there can be they're not supervised in many cases. Um, but we are looking at consolidating stops where it makes the most sense. >> Right. So, you're right. In some areas you can't do it because there's no sidewalks and it's just not safe enough. But in some areas we

022could do it where you can actually pick up some time and reduce the the buses as well. >> Um, and this going back to the number of buses. So each bus that we reduce, let's say in option two, that that's a net savings to the the district as well. >> Correct. And so if you want to look at it by unit cost, it's approximately a h 100,000 a year per bus. >> Uh so if you're looking at shaving a bus and you know that's that's 100 grand save uh roughly it it depends on some other factors but it roughly averages out. >> Okay. All right. Thank you. Thanks >> German. >> Um thank you for the presentation. And I notice an option too that the primary school starts at 9:20 or so. Um what's the

023reasoning behind such a late start for the primary school? >> So the the main reason for that is more so in the dismissal side of things. So we and again to my point about the varying lengths of the academic day. So the time where students are actually in the classroom in the school building. Uh the primary schools have a very short day whereas the secondary schools have a longer day. Um so the high school If you see, follow that graph. The high school dismisses a 301. Um, it gives the the bus is 39 minutes essentially to do a route and get to a primary school to do a subsequent route. Uh, the the more you shrink that window, uh, the the more difficult it becomes to to schedule the the buses. And so you end

024up with really what is occurring now is you have buses that are not filled as much. they don't have as high of a wrership and they're shorter because they don't have as much time to do. Uh but it has it has been brought up before and we're going to look at possibly a sub option two um where we try to bring in that time as much as we possibly can without really affecting the efficiencies. And I guess uh one of the things I also noticed as well um is like in terms of like I know we have an average of about 22 students in our buses versus the state maximum of 55. I was just wondering what's the or sorry uh I think ours is at 33, right? We're 22 below the average. Like what's

025the reasoning behind us being so low below the average? >> So there's there's a couple things. Um, you know, this the seating arrangement is really there's a three person bench and a twoerson bench and high schoolers it's really a twoerson bench and a oneperson bench. Uh, but then again high schoolers don't ride the bus that much. So it's a difficult equation to kind of balance how how do you set up this roster? How do you make sure the bus is not overloaded? Um, in in some cases I think you'll be with the average being 33. There's certainly buses that are well below that. Um, so that's where we're focusing on, you know, why are those buses so light? Uh, why are they empty? And where can we maybe consolidate some buses together uh to to

026drive that average up? And so if you're looking at the average, it may not increase that much, but the aggregate of the entire fleet, it would probably save a couple buses. >> And then my my final question my final question is between option one and option two, um, which one, uh, does, uh, I guess your firm recommend between the two? Um I go ahead is an unbiased >> presenter who's showing us our options and then we have to decide I mean there are certain things like monetary cost is about $100,000,000 difference between option one and option two. That's one parameter. These are all things we have. These are things that we have to digest um take in and make a recommendation. Uh we didn't ask uh Mike's firm to to do that. >> Okay. Thank

027you for the presentation. I was curious with both option one and option two, does the average route length uh change and by how much means that how how long kids are going to ride that bus for? >> Well, I don't have the exact figure uh for for like an average increase or or decrease if that's the case. I I think in in many cases they do increase because that's really where the efficiency comes from. Um you have a certain set time frame um where you want to be able to do as have that bus running for pretty much the entire time. Um that way you can get as many students and and use the seating efficiently. Um and so I think in in most cases the routes may increase slightly but it's not a significant

028amount. It would be somewhere less than five minutes. uh if you look at the average. >> Okay. So that's insignificant even if it will increase a little bit right time. >> Correct. Yeah. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> I'm sorry. I just want to clarify the the option two increases the length on on the bus. >> I I think both would. I don't again I don't have the the exact. So um I think the the concept though behind both is just to create more time for the buses to operate. So, you will see some routes that um that are extended a bit, but it's not as significant. You're not going to see hourlong bus rides, right? >> Thank you, >> Rebecca. Sorry, >> um I know you said that a lot of the buses are

029going to be doing two, some are doing three routes. Is there and I recognize that the high school needs to get off the bus before the primary schools for parents who need their older students to get the younger kids off. If the intermediate schools got pulled back a little bit, could the primary schools get pulled back a little bit too or is that too simple to say? >> Um, it it could be. I think some some of the logic behind the intermediates was that they're already starting at 8:00 in that option two and so going any earlier would be would be a lot. Um that shifting them later or earlier is really insignificant to the logistics. U it's more so just that 8:00 is a friendlier time to start to start the day I guess.

030>> Okay. And the other question is you had mentioned option one was more likely that the kids would be on the same bus, same bus driver on the way and the way back but option two they may have changes more likely of a change. >> It would be the same buses in both options. Um it's just that the way the way the deployment of the buses works will be will be different. So it's it's not like a straight tiering of you know this this tier works in the morning and this tier works in the afternoon. Um this the scheduling is just a little bit different. It won't have an effect on bus numbers >> like who their driver is. >> Right. Okay. >> Mike, you had a question. >> Oh yeah. First of all, thank

031you for the uh presentation, all your work on this. Thank you for traveling here yourself from a little bit away in in the option to the only thing kind of to Mr. Lee's point is those primary schools starting so late. Are is the number of buses is there a way to get down the number of buses for the primary schools? Are there more buses that are kind of doing special routes for those for that thing or bringing kids across the district at a lower capacity? Is there any way I know you said you were going to try, but is there a good prospect of just even 10 15 minutes could make a big difference to families and for kids who are even though it's a shorter day of school that's late into the day. >>

032Yeah. And and 10 15 minutes is a lot in transportation. Yeah, I'm sure it is. So, u but we're looking at it. I I think what what I don't want to do by shifting the primary schools is then cause everything else in the sequence to have to be adjusted as well. >> Um but we're definitely going to look at it >> um >> and make sure you know what what the earliest would possibly be. We look >> that makes sense obviously without throwing the whole thing off. Thank you for that. And and on that point, Mike, if I could just butt in on this one part because I know what Mike shared as we were going through this and designing it. Um, anyone who's in the audience or is at the table knows that we

033unfortunately at at our late our primaries that dismiss the latest, right? Uh, Adamsville, JFK, Bradley Gardens, we tend to have a couple of routes that are just perpetually late. And and part of it is from what Mike described, there's just not enough time for them to get to where they need to get to, especially in the beginning of the year. But by allowing this, and I know it it uh it's counterintuitive in some ways, but by allowing more time in the way that it's designed, it will actually ensure or come closer to ensuring, right? Nothing's assured in transportation. Um but it comes closer to assuring that those kids will get picked up at that time and go home, right? Where you do have some kids that that are are there later. Just I I I

034didn't know if anyone >> Yeah. No, that's helpful. Thank you. That's >> hijacked. >> Thank you, Lucy. >> Um I think in the ideal world, we want to transport our kids to school at a the best time around 8:00. um something like that. I was looking at that chart. There are some schools that starts after 9:00. I think that would pose a challenge. Um I think I asked uh superintendent earlier uh whether it's possible to tighten up the operation so that we don't have schools that start after 9 uh like for primary school. I know that we have all sorts of in in town sports programs that actually starts four o'clock. If we do use like the later time for primary schools that will have impact on their ability to participate in sports which I

035think is so important for their health and development >> some of the schools essentially get out at this time what 3:35 >> that's to answer that question and I know it's not the answer you're probably looking for at at in a district as large as ours, someone's going to be on the bus at a certain time, right? And that's kind of what we have to figure out. So, yes, someone's going to be on that bus that that has the 7:30 start. And yes, someone's going to be on that bus where you get out at 3:30 or 3:40, right? So, whichever way you slice it, someone's going to be in that bucket. and and it's part of the puzzle that we're trying to put together to say, you know, how do how do we meet everyone's

036needs? Um, knowing that anytime you do something like this, no one's going to be 100% happy. >> And I imagine that clubs and wreck will adjust as everyone's going to adjust. >> Sure. And and and the question comes up with with athletics and and I I think everyone knows here I I think you have many schools right who who batted around that you know what 5 10 years ago the whole thing was school shouldn't start before 8:30 at the high school level. Well well that just made it logistically impossible for anyone to operate. um especially with your after school programming whether it's clubs, activities, athletics. Um because most of those contests start at four o'clock and now you're asking to to sacrifice instructional time you know for later school start times and I'm not here

037to debate that but we know that's that's an argument and and from my vantage point it's a valid one. Um, so with that with that said, the the vast majority of athletic contests happen at four o'clock or 4:15. 3:00 gives athletes plenty of time to get to the fieldhouse, get changed, get on a bus and and and go somewhere, especially because our conference, generally speaking, has local schools. Now, if if um there's a contest, let's say at Philipsburg or a longer ride, you may have kids that have to get out of school on that given day a few few minutes early, but it's nothing that's out of the ordinary. I could tell you for for comparison's sake, um Bernard's Township, I believe a year ago, changed their school start times. They get out at 2:58.

038Montgomery changed theirs. They get out at 3:00. So, so it's not as if we're alone in this and and I don't think we're too far over and and probably and nj.com had a list of arrival and dismissal times I think a week ago for all the schools in the state and I think the wheelhouse so to speak as far as when kids generally leave at the high school level most of them are between 2:40 and 3:00 that seems to be the window. Now, for us, I've got to say 7:20 is pretty early. >> Yeah, >> it's pretty early. >> And that's what I was going to say about nj.com. I think majority of the schools do start on 8 and finish >> somewhere around 3:00 or so. >> And it and it does present another

039set of challens another set of challenges to our coaches and adviserss and that is kids get out of school at 2 o'clock. you have a game, let's say a home game that starts at four, that's that's a lot of dead time um for teenagers and and it's a lot to manage versus right you get out of school, go to the fieldhouse, get dressed, get on the bus and uh it it would be a change but but look and I'm coming at this as someone who who coached at the high school level for 13 years. this is not an issue for us. >> Also think it's it's worth noting I know the issue of like high school students with jobs at their school and other things to do, volunteering, what what have you. This 3:00 pretty

040reasonable time for that too. We're not pushing toward 3:45, 4:00 with getting to that job is is difficult. I think our conversation about sports continue to converge to high schoolers, but our younger kids do have sports to play as well. I was that's why I was talking about the the the in town sports programs. I think that's a great way. It's very cost effective. Families do participate a lot and it's important for the kids growth and future athletics. Right. >> Yeah. I think most start at six o'clock. They come into our fields after we're done practicing. six o'clock is uh field hockey leaves the the top field. Um and I believe that's when peeweee football and all that stuff starts at Balone 5:30, 6 o'clock. So >> yeah, that's what I was just going to

041say. I think most of the lower level sports are starting more. It's around six o'clock. >> I know that there's some program that starts at 4, some starts at 4:30. There's more that starts at later, >> right? >> Yeah. I I mean with any change right it's not going to be perfect and people will have to make adjustments depending on which way we go and we make adjustments to our operations school schedules teachers schedules have to change and if the recreation programs have to adjust their time by 20 minutes I'm sure they can do the same >> you had a question >> just a comment um just about the recreation I know many of us are probably coaches so a lot of the recreation programs after the parents get out because the parents are the

042ones who are running them at night. Um just as an aside. Um also with the I mean I would love to see in primary and intermediate bump up just like 15 minutes both of them. Um, but on average, I think all of the kids are going to be home earlier because even though the primaries are going to be getting out later, their distance on the bus is so much less than when they're going from Eisenhower and Hillside. So, they're going to be on the bus a shorter amount of time. They're going to get home earlier than we saw those buses running so long. And with sports at the high school, because we have this great rotating drop schedule, our athletes are only going to they're not going to miss the same class every Friday night

043football game or, you know, every Friday night basketball game. They it'll be spread throughout their schedule, which is great. Can >> I just ask a question of Mike real quick? are are is athletics built in like are any of those buses taking the students to games or extracurricular activities or is that just home and to and from from school and everything else is kind of separate? >> We we we did receive a practice and game schedule um just to incorporate that into I guess making sure that there are buses available uh for when those occur. And so um that was for last year's sport schedule. So, we'll have to update it for this year. But, it's really just to make sure that there are buses to accommodate it. Um, >> we have more optionally. >>

044Yeah. Yeah. Yes. Potentially in in option two. Um, just because further you got go on in the afternoon, the fewer buses that are actually going to be out operating a route. So, they'll be available to do different. >> Thanks. >> Yeah. So, you know, someone like Bob said, is always going to start a little bit later, but currently the intermediate starts at 9:15. Now, those kids, fifth, sixth graders, when they go to middle school the following year, that's a big shock in during the teenage years, right? To wake up early in the morning to catch that, you know, 720 bus, you know, and then push that a little bit further to high school. Well, remember that five years ago that that school that middle school start time was 7:35. >> Yeah. >> So, it's only

045recently that that shock has only been not as much. >> But no, I'm saying going from intermediate to that, right? So, you know, there is that biological um element to this too. I mean, no matter what you do, teenagers just cannot wake up early. Um and again, someone's going to have to wake up a little bit later. I hope maybe 10 minutes here or there we can work on. Uh but just wanted to add that that I think eight 8:00 is a sweet spot. Um and everything else will work out after that. Lucy, >> so I want to look at more like on the later side of this um this operation. If the primary schools are starting after 9:00 uh at one of the options is 9 9:20, how are the parents going to be

046able to go to work? Are do do they have to do like a before care? Do we have enough capacity to do that? And what what about families who can't afford before care? How do we help those families? There are a few he asked a few things. So one was what are parents going to do with 920? I think AJ said the intermediate essentially starts at that time right now. So >> and I can tell you it's difficult. Let >> him finish. >> I'll answer your question. >> People people figure it out right and and and when we go to this I I think the thing And I don't want to get into a circular debate on this. In a perfect world, we'd have x amount of buses. We could all run a single tier.

047A single tier, a single route. Everyone goes to school at 8:00. We could be in a walking district where everybody, look, when I was in Manville, all the schools started at essentially the same time. They walked. We didn't have a single bus. It was great. No offense. Um, >> it was great. >> No, no, no disciplinary issues on the buses, etc. So, unfortunately with a triple tiered system, and you are correct. I agree. 8:00 is is is right. That that's a good time. But only one group gets that. And someone's got to go earlier and someone's got to go later. And it's up to us to figure out who that is. But no matter which way you slice it, someone's going earlier and someone's going later. It just depends on what grade band. Right. So

048I I hear what you're saying, but it's not an option. >> Sorry. Go ahead. >> Right. It it could be an option even if we all went to double tier buses and you know at millions of dollars of expense and we could have two times instead of three but that that's not that's not the world we live in and that's not the budgetary uh uh reality of the situation. So with that we could certainly look at moving things you know or or making it tighter and that's what we would explore but will someone be starting at somewhere around 9:00 the answer is yes whether it's 9:20 910 9:15 it's going to be in that neighborhood. Uh now to your point uh do we have before care? Yes, we offer before care. Um and and lastly,

049are are we going to to pay for before care for family? No, we're not. Um and that that's I know it's an abrupt answer, but we don't have that in our budget. So, no. Um so, those are the parameters and and again, it's It's when I I think we have to look at this where okay, we want certain things, right? I want to move to this perfect world, but we've got to look at those options and say, okay, which one of those bars would you switch? Okay, what do we switch to to flip this operation? It can't just be I want this, you know, because then that's not a solution. Hey, >> I'm also I'm sorry. I just have one two quick comments on that or three actually. Uh one, what we're really talking about

050is a 25m minute difference between the second tier of primary schools. Uh and what we're looking at in option two. Um many people start work well before 9:00. I can point to the teachers in this room who all generally start before 9:00, whether or not their school starts before 9:00. I started at 7:30. my wife started at 7:30. So, yes, we had to do before Karen no matter what time the the the school option was. Um, so I think that that is already impacting many people to what Bob says, it doesn't matter necessarily who's ending where, it's going to be an impact and we're as a board and as a district fully cognizant that this will impact our stakeholders and our community, our kids and our parents. Uh and lastly, you asked about uh what

051about people that can't afford before care. Uh it's my understanding that the beforeare does offer uh a reduction in fee for free and reduced uh lunch uh families. Uh so there is that as well. >> What one last thing I want to ask anymore? Um next year obviously it's going to be the first year we do this. So is there a provision where it'll be tweaked as we go forward during the year or maybe perhaps the following year because that's going to be a big shock for some students you know moving into middle school um who would be in intermediate this year you know sixth seventh eight so this year is fifth graders. So is there a provision somewhere where you know maybe throughout the year or maybe the following year it can be tweaked

052a little bit. >> So we have to have a draft of routes. Um it's it's not different from any other year. It's it's generally put into place around the holiday break um where we know if there's things that need to change for the next year that we let the vendors know. Um in this case yes there will be a lot of change. I think transportation department understands that the first couple weeks of school there are always changes. They they do expect that next year there will be more changes and and more um phone calls and and more you know just disruption um to manage. Um I I think once we we get the routes into draft format to go out to to bid that's 90 to 95% of the way there. um that there will

053be some slight changes over the summer. There always is. Um new students enroll like we don't have kindergarteners right now. We don't know where they they live and where they're going to show up. Uh so we've built in some some wiggle room for that. Um so there will be changes, but will it affect the pricing? Will it affect um the majority of students and and their transportation schedule? Probably not. Um but it'll be closely monitored. Um yeah, my first question was about before care um which I kind of know the answer because I've already asked administration breakfast will be provided correct and they'll you know have opportunities to do what they do in students do in afterare which is in our case they have an opportunity to finish up homework. they have an opportunity to

054play with friends. And um my second part of that question or that wasn't even a question, it was a statement. But my my my next question uh is which what is more utilized in our school district in terms of before afterare and and I want to ask that because when I when I had kids I didn't go back to work until my kids were out of probably second third grade. So I I feel like there is a trend to have more home care there. But I'm also curious like in terms of utilization are parents more likely to enroll their kids in before afterare at the elementary level versus the higher levels. It's mostly used at the primary levels and um right now it's mostly after care but anticipating a later start time we would anticipate

055more enrollment in before care >> but then that would probably decrease your afterare numbers because it's starting at a later time. >> Correct. >> Right. Okay. Just if I could just just age point if anyone else has any thoughts again I'm not a medical expert but or high school kids I could see an advantage to moving that time a little bit later. It's one thing to be sitting in you know AP chemistry 2 at 7:15 in the morning and being ready to go. My sense is for kids in middle school 6th 7th grade in that range. Again, everyone's different, but you put them in a room at 7:45, they're going to be ready to go regardless. They're gonna they're going to have energy regardless in in in my experience and they wake up pretty quick.

056So, I'm not sure if anyone has any thoughts on that, but I'd rather see middle school. It feels like more of a natural fit actually to me anyway to have middle school start a little bit earlier. I think they're up I think they're not sleeping in as much as as those other grades, but that's just my own experience. Go ahead. >> So I hear that school certainly as the reason that we should continue >> I think I I heard that that we're using the intermediate school currently starting after 9 as a reason why we should continue to do that. >> No that can I just interrupt that that was not what I said. >> Okay. >> Can I are you okay if I restate >> what I said and then I'll follow up. said, "No

057ma I I think it's the third time I'm saying it. No matter which way you add this up, a bus has to go from a run to pick up another group of kids. Someone's going to start early, someone's going to be in the middle, someone's going to be later with a triple tiered route." And and you could see if if we look at any of these, you could pretty much guess where these buses are are going to head to. Like for option one, most likely the vast majority of those high school routes, as soon as they drop off at the high school, they are most likely turning around and picking up the primary kids. Likewise, the middle school, you'll have some depending on the route. All right. Some may do primary schools as well, but

058the vast majority of your middle school routes probably end up picking up your intermediate kids, right? So buses are going from one place to another. You can't all be on the same time. So I did not say that because we're doing it now, that's why we continue to do this. What I am saying is the reality of the situation is that you have a triple tiered busing system. That's reality. >> No. Can I follow up? >> You're good. >> All right. So, we're the fact that our intermediate schools are starting late now. I think that's already causing a lot of difficulties for families and for kids. If we can through this round of exercise be able to solve that problem for our kids, that'll be great. So I don't know like what parameter space do

059we need to set is it possible that we set the parameter space that no school start after nine and we can tweak what what's possibility that we have three tier is one way of doing it maybe we can do a two and a half tier with the best and optimization optimum algorithm right so is it possible that we come up with a solution that no school start like at nine I would love to see what that option look like if it ends up costing say more. I would like to know what that much more is so that we can make an informed decision. >> So a a two and a half tier by all rights I mean I have to imagine would be much more costly than the three tier. >> I'm glad that we

060have our transportation. >> Mr. Archer, is that an accurate statement that a two and a half tier would be much more costly than a three tier? >> Yes, >> we're going from about 84 buses at three tier to what a 100 buses at two and a half. >> Yeah, it's about 110. And and at about $100,000 a piece, that's about I don't know $1.6 million roughly, >> right? >> So, but to answer your other question, like, can we have an option where we don't start at 9:00? Sure. Uh if we want a school to start at 7:00, we we can have that option. And then we lose the benefit of of a later high school start time, we have someone starting getting on a bus at, I don't know, 600, 6:15. Um I mean are

061there worlds in which that could happen? Yes, there I mean Mr. Archer said that there were what six different options that you that you considered and for various reasons most I mean many of which uh I saw had many more buses uh assigned to them and therefore much more costly and therefore budgetary problems. I mean yeah we could have as many infinite possibilities as possible but what is currently being recommended by Mr. Archer and by the administration are one of these two options. >> And to that point, I don't I don't want to belabor this. I you know, as your superintendent and and I think generally speaking as a board, I know how Kevin feels. We are fiscally conservative. We are looking at things from a costneutral standpoint. As we know, we we've kept our

062tax increases. It was one of the low in Somerset County. Um, so I've got to say to go from a three tier to a two-tier, it's a non-starter. Um, because a it you're talking about a significant cost increase. And I I don't believe that the community or the board would be in favor of that. I know I certainly wouldn't be because as we know with the 2% cap it's a zero sum game. So if you're spending meaning that if if I'm spending 1.5 million more in this bucket well it's going to come out of a different one. It it's not just free money. And I I I don't mean to lecture but but again we we're looking at solutions like we're We're complaining about a scenario and it's a scenario that quite frankly has existed

063for the last five years. Um, so you know, we've got to look for solutions. And my question for for you, and I I I hope we have time to to turn this over to the community because I think people are here uh to to hear their comments and I'd like to hear them. like we're we're going in a circle, but someone's going to go in that time slot. >> I'll make a last comment before we move on. For any optimization, any optimization, there is a parameter space that's set that we optimize within that parameter space. Is it possible that our parameter space, the boundary is set to where the latest schools don't start after 9? I would like to see that number. We may not choose that. I would like to see that >> difference.

064Can we not consider the reduction of buses an optimization? I mean, if we're we're seeing a decline in in enrollment, wouldn't a goal maybe be to reduce buses? Because otherwise, is it is it sustainable if we just keep going the way we're going? >> I'm going to I'm going to interrupt at this point. We can continue to talk about this afterwards. However, our our audience has been very patient waiting uh to to have their say as well. Um so I am just going to cut it short at this time uh and we can go back to uh our comments if we uh feel the need to. Um is that all right? >> I have made my comments. I'm good. Thank you. >> Sure. I I would appreciate though after the public comments, is the board

065prepared to to share because I need to know the feelings of the public but also the feelings of of the board as far as what option they would go for. Is this something we want to discuss tonight and go around and people you know let administration where they stand? Um or do we want to push that to the 29th? Okay. All right. So, we'll open it to public comment and then we'll >> I'm sure he wants nothing more. >> All right. So, we're up to the public comment period on the transportation analysis only. individuals and/or groups are involved invited, excuse me, my eyesight's growing, to present their concerns, comments, and requests only regarding the transportation analysis to the board of education at this time in accordance with board policy. Members of the public are allotted

066one opportunity to address the board for a maximum of five minutes during this period of the meeting. Please be advised that a video recording of this meeting will be posted on the district website and we ask that you state your name and m municipality for the record. Hi. Uh, Jim Maloney. I live in Bridgewater. Uh, just a quick question. Uh, with option two, moving the high school up 45 40 minutes later, I believe it was. Um, how does that affect the students who do half day at VOTE and, you know, their schedules with arriving and leaving school uh, in that period? That's a good question and I I don't have the information in front of me, but I I do know that there are several area schools that are on a similar schedule being Montgomery

067and and Bernard's Township uh who are able to to make this work and and certainly whatever we need to do to accommodate our VOTE students, we certainly will. Okay. >> Hello. Good evening. My name is Megan Simone. I am a Bridgewater resident, but I am also a biology teacher at Chadam High School. And I have been at Chadam since the ' 06 07 school year, where for the majority of my time there, I worked under the direction of Superintendent Dr. Mike Lasusa uh who was a big supporter of later high school start times. So my first year at Chadam we started at 7:25 then we moved that to 740 and then um now for the past three years 8:20 with a 300 p.m. dismissal. Um this is something that Dr. Lassusa worked tirelessly for during

068his time at Chadam. He has since moved on um to Princeton. So I think I offer a unique perspective in that I have both a before and after uh essentially experience. Anecdotally I will give you my feedback that my first black students are without a doubt more alert, more attentive, more engaged and not too sleepy to process content and think critically. Uh it is a tangible difference. Again it's anecdotal but it is night and day compared to what it used to be. Someone mentioned before AP Chem at 7:15. I was in the back going, "Uh-huh. Uhhuh. Right. Right on. I don't teach AP Chem. I'm bio, but but I felt your comment was right on." Um, in addition to my anecdotal feedback, I will let you know that Dr. Lassusa um is definitely a scienceminded

069thinking guy. He collected pre and post data and feedback by surveying the community. I'm happy to share that data with you, but I can summarize Uh there was an increase in hours of sleep per night for high school students. There was an increase in overall feeling of wellness, a decrease in tardies and absences, and a decrease in anxiety, stress, and depression. Um Dr. Lassusa's survey results align with current research. Uh, I recommend you check out uh, Mousavi and Troxol's two uh, 2023 study as well as the beliefs of countless pediatricians. And the data isn't surprising. Sleep is a basic need. I learned about it in my intro to educational philosophy class. Uh, sleep is at the bottom of Maslo's hierarchal triangle. Recent neuroscience explains why sleep is so critical to brain function. is because our

070brain is cleared of metabolic byproducts and toxins while we sleep. Which means less sleep equates to less cleanup and less cleanup leads to decreased brain function. This explains why sleep-deprived parents of newborns suffer from what's commonly called baby brain. It's the same kind of concept. Sleep prepares our brains to work optimally, which is essentially required for deep learning. For these reasons, I strongly support option two, the one with the latest high school start time. And I'm not alone, and neither is Chadam. As Superintendent Beers mentioned earlier, many schools are following suit, including Ridge High School. like Chattam a high achieving aca academically competitive school. It's my understanding there's been push back. I think there's always push back. So I will speak to just two points. Um I'll tell you that there has been minimal conflict

071with sports at Chadam. We have uh the same exact schedule as Bridgewwater Rit High School, a modified rotating block 4-day rotation. So even when students have away games and they need to miss some of their last block class, they're not missing the same class over and over again as in a traditional period 1 through eight day. Um and there was there were many teachers that that teachers don't like change. We know this. I could say that as a teacher. Uh but not one teacher ended up leaving when Chadam implemented the later start time. Um so in closing I' I'd really just like to think about the situation globally. Um I truly feel the goal of a school in a democratic society is to gain wisdom to be a knowledgeable person right to contribute to society

072and the information is there for us right we know about adolescent melatonin levels. We know about the lyic systems effect on the sleeping brain. And I feel now it's time to implore that information and apply it to this decision. I feel that this decision, choosing option two, strongly aligns with the district's mission statement to provide outstanding educational opportunities and resources to help all students achieve academic excellence, realize their full potential, and become responsible citizens. The fis fiscal aspect of option two, in my opinion, is just gravy. Oh, look at that. Thank you, Missy. Thank you, Hi, my name is Caroline Rder, also a Bridgewater resident and I think my fellow Bridgewater resident could not have done a better job at uh speaking about the impact of sleep with our adolescence. So, thank you to Mr.

073Archer and for the for the transportation analysis and for the board of ed to supporting that. I appreciate hearing an option that enables the imperative of supporting better sleep for adolescent students albeit and unfortunately it sounds like it would just be for the high school students and not middle school students who are also encountering um the changes in sleep patterns in puberty. However, just to quote a very small piece of research there's so much noted before um that there's an overwhelming consensus among researchers uh regarding chronic sleep deprivation adolescence and its negative impact on academic mental and social behavior. It's extraordinary and it's rare to have such consistency in results particularly in studies complex human behavior such as sleep. So the scientific evidence inconclusive um this oped was published in March of 2009. So here

074we are 16 years later we're still considering an option that makes no change for our district and that is disappointing. Um as Mr. Beers also noted in August of 2014, the American Academy of Pediatrics um issued the plea for all middle school and high school students have start times no later or no earlier than 8:30 a.m. which was reinforced by the New Jersey AAP um in following COVID in 2020 2022. So I do urge the board to act quickly now that you heard these transportation challenges are solvable at least for our high school students to consider only plans that move back um are start times for adolescence closer in alignment with the AAP recommendations. >> Thank you M. Hi everyone, Laura Crest first day with my new feet over there walking up here. President of

075the Bridgewater Barrett and Education Association. So I must say if any of you were here in the last 10 years right now I might be having post-traumatic stress uh reaction over talking about school start time again. But um so we'll cross that bridge. You know I'll talk to the powers that be here talk about the surveys and stuff when that time comes. Um, but I do have a question about before and before uh I was I had it down about before and after care that that was a concern totally. Um, and that though really what I'm interested in and I know a lot of teachers would be just for this is what about late buses? I think we have we block a lot of students. I don't know if that's built in, if that's still

076because a lot of students cannot participate in events or in sports, uh, in practices, um, if they don't have a ride. Lots of people have two parents that work and cannot get to pick their kids up. Same thing for extra help. And I feel like that would be really, I mean, when I started here, we had literally like some days four late buses. And I know times were different. Um anyway, that was just something I was thinking about busting. I'll be back to talk about my other stuff. Thank you. >> Thank you. And and and if I could just add it, and I failed to mention it during our presentation. Again, part of this exercise is is to find efficiencies within our current system. And one of the things that that we are certainly going

077to explore is to add late buses. Now, I'm not promising. I don't want you to say they're going to happen, but we're definitely going to try to work towards that goal and and that's with the late buses starting with the middle school first and and then going uh high school because I I do agree with you. It's it's difficult where you want to keep a kid for extra help, etc. for tutoring and they don't have a ride home. So if we can add that service which which again was lost five years ago that that would be big and we're certainly taking that into account. >> Hi, I'm Jessica Levit. I have two students that were recent graduates from the district. I'm very happy to hear that start times of middle and high school were one

078of the factors that were reviewed with our transportation survey. Um, for those of you who don't know, I have been advocating for healthy school hours in our district for nearly six years. Um, and not everyone has heard my comments before, so I'll take this chance to remind you of just a tiny bit of it. But I do think the other parents here have spoken well, particularly the one who has experience at Chadam. Um, all major health organizations in the United States, including the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Center for Disease Control, American Psychological Association, and the US Surgeon General, and many more agree that start times before 8:30 in the middle and high schoolers are harmful to students. These expert organizations all advocate for healthy school hours because they agree that

079chronic sleep deprivation is a serious health concern for adolescence. This lack of sleep causes depression, anxiety, substance abuse, suicidal ideiation, obesity, eating disorders, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, behavior problems, impaired judgment, car accidents, sports injuries, tardiness and absenteeism, diminished academic performance, and even potential impact on brain development. There is 30 years of conclusive evidence-based research that shows when middle and high schools move to a later start time, it always results in students getting more sleep. They don't just stay up later. This additional sleep and better sleep that is aligned with their biological clocks reduces all the negative impacts I mentioned before. they are happier and healthier and achieve better in school. Yes, there are other factors to be considered. The perceived obstacles must be handled in the best way for our district, my own kids. This change

080will no longer benefit my own kids. But it was never about just my kids. It's about what's doing best for the majority, not any one family or student. I wish I didn't personally know of so many kids in our schools that are struggling with mental health, but it's the reality. And if you don't think it's a problem in our schools, then you aren't paying attention. Sure, not all of these problems can be attributed to lack of sleep. And changing start times will not fix them all on its own, but we know that healthy school start times are a concrete achievable step that has been proven to help. The experts are telling us to do this. How can we not take this step? I commend Mr. Beers and the board for taking this health matter into

081account when determining how to optimize transportation and I implore the board to consider this important factor in your decisions of future school schedules. I also wanted to share my experience as a parent in the high school before and after the lost 20 minutes of instruction. it had no impact on their and their teachers ability to cover the material. So, while I totally understand it if it just happens to be that adding it back in works with the schedule options, I hope I do hope teachers were consulted and parents were consulted as if there's a value and we aren't just doing this because that's how it was before kind of thing. And I I assume that that is the case. Um, I want to thank you again for your time and yay for option two. >>

082Thank you. Name is Chris. I spoke to you guys. I was here to follow up on concerns I raised in the July meeting regarding significant waste of resources at the school. >> Sir. >> Yes. >> Hi. I'm sorry. This is this part of public comment is only on the transportation. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> We have a >> We will have another portion very shortly. Thank you. Is there anyone else for public comment on the transportation proposals? Seeing none, I'm going to close that part of public comment. Uh, as I did cut off uh, our comment, I want to make sure that there's nothing else that the board needs to weigh in on. I just want to thank Miss Crest real quick because I had on my notes um, late bus and I didn't

083get the chance to address it yet. I also just want to and I haven't spoken before so I'm going to do it now. Um, I want to be clear that there are challenges that are going to be associated with any of our options. Um, and there are numerous considerations that go into this decision. Uh, I don't think any of the considerations and any of the hardships or the way that it's going to impact people u taken for granted either by this board or by the administration. Um, and I think that this board and the administration are just trying to do what is best for our students in our district. uh and trying to find the options that are uh most viable for us all. So that's all I have and I guess since that was

084me talking that could be the president's report. Uh otherwise all I wanted to say is welcome back to our students and our staff. Uh our our schools are buzzing and it's great to have everyone back and I hope you all had a good first week. With that in mind, we will transition to committee reports which will be very quick. Uh, academic committee with Mr. Jooshi. >> Next meetings on October 6, virtual at 5:'. >> Thank you, Mr. Jooshi. We're then up to community relations with Mrs. Lachland. >> Next meeting to be determined. >> All right. We'll move to FFT with Mr. Walker. >> Um, we'll be on September 16th, the next meeting at 5:30, Kevin. Five or 5:30? Yeah, we'll be one of those times. Thank you. Personnel with Mrs. Khalist Street. >> Our next

085meeting is October 28th. >> Thank you. Are there any leazison delegate reports? Mrs. Hassuna, >> just um quick calendar updates for the Somerset County Schoolboard Association. You can mark your calendars. October 9th, it's a Thursday at Somerset County Botech. there is an AI implementation and academic integrity program which is going to be facilitated um by Mr. Beers. So I thought that would be nice to attend. November 17th there's a meeting. It's a Monday from 6:00 to 8:30 also at VOTE. And then long distance Monday March 2nd is unsung hero awards at Somerset County VOTE. >> Thank you Mula. >> And we have a our teacher is receiving the award. >> Yes, Miss Masswood. Our teacher from Hillside is the Somerset County's uh teacher of the year. She was actually just honored this past weekend at

086the uh Somerset Patriots baseball game. She got to throw out a pitch and I look forward to having her honored at that meeting. >> Which one is she being? March. >> March 2nd. >> Thank you. >> Sorry, that's unsung. >> Yeah, that's unsung heroes. Unsung heroes. >> It'll be the May meeting. >> It's May. Okay. >> Oh, I didn't write that one down. >> So, she has even longer to Yeah, >> work on her speech. >> It's funny you mentioned the uh Somerset Patriots game, Mr. Singer, because it was also burrow of Rariton Day at the Somerset Patriots uh final home game. Uh Council President Don Tazzy was really instrumental in getting a lot of people from town there and specifically from JFK school. There's a great story up on the JFK website. Um Mr.

087Chuchino led um fourth graders in the choir um singing uh God Bless America and the national anthem before the game. Um, and there were a lot of people from JFK school and from the Raron community, uh, that were there. There were Cubs, Cubs gear everywhere, not the Chicago Cubs, the JFK Cubs. Uh, so it was a really wonderful event. So, thank you to everyone who made that possible, particularly uh, Council President Tazy from Raridan who spearheaded that and got tickets in the hands of so many kids and families. It was a great, great community event. And, uh, also speaking of the Raran community, there's uh, Mr. Mr. Singer, I don't know if you'd like me to bring this up now. Um, the Burough Council is applying for a uh grant through Somerset County History Program

088for a walking trail to identify a number of historic buildings and um sites in town, a walking trail um so you could follow it and see some of the the buildings and some of the great history that um has taken place and is still standing in town. And um Mr. Sing, would you like me to bring this up now or save that to new business? >> Let's talk about new business. >> Okay. >> Any other league reports? Mrs. L. >> Hi. Yeah. I um I attended town council on on Thursday, last Thursday. I just wanted to mention to the board that they approved a pilot agreement for uh Petersburg Innovation Center, which is like right on uh US 20220 206. It's the largest development in like 35 years, which would have been the mall. So,

089you know, we're talking about uh transportation. I thought that may be relevant. Um unlike some other pilot programs, it it doesn't bring uh residents in. It doesn't it's an apartment, but um you know, it's still a pilot program. So, I I wanted to mention it. That's all I had. >> Thank you. And that was going to be my question. Are there any other on delegates? Mrs. Dr. Lee, >> thank you. I would like to remind our board that the uh fall uh delegate assembly is going to happen uh in December and then the deadline to submit a resolution from this board or any resolution from this board would be uh October the 3. Before that we have one more meeting. So if we want to bring the resolution to to the delegate assembly so that

090that that can potentially become one of the positions that the NGSBA will take, we have one more meeting to to handle that. So I want to remind us of that deadline. Thank you. >> Any other leazison delegate reports? >> I have a brief one that I'm going to kind of tag on to uh Muna's report. Uh there is a regional information session for schoolboard candidates being held by the NJSBA on October 1st at 7 PM at the Votech. Uh so any I know there's a number of candidates uh for the school board election in November. And if anyone is interested in finding out uh more information on what it means to be a school board member uh October 1st, 7 o'clock at the vote. With that said, we're up to item number 10, public comment

091session. Individuals in our groups are invited to present their concerns, comments, and requests to the board of education. At this time for any matters in accordance with board policy, members of the public are allowed one opportunity to address the board for a maximum of five minutes during this period of the meeting. Please be advised that a video recording of this meeting will be posted on the district's website. And again, we ask that you state your full name and uh municipality for the record. Thank you. My name is Chris. I live in Bridgewware. I attend the July meeting to let you know about the waste at Bradley Garden School. Um you school board said you would address it issue. I believe you did. Following I did notice the smartboards were finally shut off that were left

092on at from the end of the school year. They stayed off until the teachers came back. Now I find at least one uh smartboard on every night and over the weekend. I do believe you talked to the contractors. Sorry. And uh after I left me, I was glad to see this person. I then wandered several other schools and here's what I found. At Riley Gardens, despite my concerns, I continue to see multiple air conditioned units and lights left on at night. The windows are always left open one side and also observed the gym lights on four out of the last six weekends. I visit other schools Um and mostly disappointing picture. Eisenhower appears to be the most responsible. Only a few lights are on if any BFK while lights are off. The office lights are

093constantly on. I've also found at least three smartboards on and four classroom lights on as multiple air condition running at night. Miltown lights are the gym lights are constantly on. Huge waste of energy. The smartboards are left on all summer. I see people school at the at like you know Sorry, I've seen people at the school late at night. Van Holton is far the worst. I found doors unlocked twice and I've had to call the police to secure the building. Gym lights have been on 24/7 for over a month. I've also seen air conditioning and smartboards left on. Classroom lights are on left on all hours and gym equipment left outside for weeks on end. While our property taxes are rising, the community expects the board to be responsible steward for our funds. Wasting electricity

094and failing to secure school property is the school's mismanagement with the money we provide is more than minor oversight. Uh I believe it's a yeah issue that needs to be addressed with urgency. I would urge you to please visit these schools, see what's going on. Um, I don't know if this is just one thing, but I believe you guys do care. You did talk to the schools, but unfortunately other people are not as concerned as you. I have to say thank you. >> Thank you, sir. >> Just wondering what time of the evening we're talking about where these things are on. >> 7 8 9 10 o'clock. >> Okay. You should know that when schools are open, we do have our night cleaning crews in. >> I go when >> So there are going to

095Let me just finish. It's not a back and forth. So we do have lights on when the crews are cleaning, but I I'll certainly take your comments into account. >> I feeling there's no vehicles in the parking lot. >> Any other public? That's Chris. >> Hi again, Laura Crest, president of the Bridgewater RA and Education Association. I think I I really need people to kind of understand and I know we've said it but like honestly with the construction this summer JFK Hamilton Bradley and Van Holton like those teachers that put those schools their classrooms and it wasn't all of them but put their classrooms back together honestly deserve like a medal or something because I was there I found out on Labor Day weekend on Saturday the teachers were in Bradley Gardens four or five

096of them and the district definitely had the cleaning crew in. There were 10 or 12 people cleaning there. I mean, I'm not saying this is a diss on, you know, the work that the district was doing, but honestly, these teachers like pulled it together in a way that I not I'm not sure I would have wanted to or been willing to. So, I'm being serious. Like, I walked in there and I was, you know, really like impressed and yet, you know, dumbfounded at my god, what what has happened here? But it's come together since. But I really just think they deserve, you know, like acknowledgement at the least because it was a lot. Um, and it seems as though negotiations has come to a close, right? So, we ratified today. Now, I think it's your

097turn. Um, and uh, it pa it passed on our side resoundingly. So, I hope it's the same here. And then I'll thank everybody next time we meet for that. Thank you. Have a good night. Any other public comment? Seeing none, want to close that portion of the agenda. We're up to item number 11, the approval of minutes. Are there any changes to the minutes that need to be made? Seeing none, Mr. Lumsky, could you please call the RO? >> Mr. Lee. >> Yes. >> Mr. Asuna, >> abain. >> Mr. Jooshi, >> abstain on both regular and close sessions. >> Miss Lockan, >> yes. >> Dr. Lee, >> yes. >> Mr. Pepe, >> yes. >> Mr. Walker, >> yes. >> Miss Kistri, >> abstain. >> Mr. Singer, >> yes. The motion passes. We're going to have

098a slight change to the agenda. The personnel items are going to be moved down to the end of the agenda. We are now up to curriculum 2616 and curriculum 2617. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Are there any questions or comments? Seeing none, Mr. Lky, please call the RO. >> Mr. Lee, >> yes. >> Mr. Sunna, >> yes. >> Mr. Jooshi, >> yes. Miss Lan, >> yes. >> Dr. Lee, >> yes. >> Mr. Pepe, >> yes. >> Mr. Walker, >> yes. >> Miss Kishri, >> yes. >> Mr. Singer, >> the cues on curriculum 2616 and yes on curriculum 2617. >> We're up to the business items. Business 2628 through business 2632. >> Salute. >> Second. >> Any questions or comments? I would like to thank the Van Halton PTO for supplying a microwave for the

099faculty lounge. I'm sure the teachers really appreciate that. Uh I would like to thank the anonymous donor for purchasing books for the library. My wife really appreciates that because she's a librarian in another district. And finally, uh thank you Mr. Gun for submitting uh for donating a cello. Unless there are any other Dr. for public information. Can you comment on 2632? What is that change of order? Thank you. >> The auditorium change order is for um changing the wood paneling on the front of the stage. um it was extended out and the change order for the middle school I believe is for um adding window shades to renovated classrooms. >> Thank you. >> Anyone else? >> Seeing none, Mr. Lyk, could you please call the vote? >> Mr. Lee, >> yes. >> Muna, >> yes.

100>> Mr. Jooshi, >> yes. Miss Lan, >> yes. >> Dr. Lee, >> yes. >> Mr. Pepe, >> yes. >> Mr. Walker, >> yes. >> Miss Khalifree, >> yes. >> Mr. Singer, >> yes. The motion passes. We now move on to special services 2609. >> So moved. >> Second. The motion. >> Any questions? Was it >> any questions or comments? >> Seeing none, Mr. Lunchky, please call the role. >> Mr. Lee, >> yes. >> Mr. Suna. >> Yes. >> Mr. Jooshi. >> Yes. >> Miss Lockchran. >> Yes. >> Dr. Lee. >> Yes. >> Mr. Pepe. >> Yes. >> Mr. Walker. >> Yes. >> Miss Kistri. >> Yes. >> Mr. Singer. >> Yes. The motion passes. We moved on to policy 2604 and policy 2605. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Any questions or comments? >> My

101only comment if I could, Mr. Singer. Sorry. >> Please. Uh my only comment is on uh 141.3 uh which is board member number and term for regional school districts. This has a looking it over again. It has basically everything from state statute on regional school districts which is a lot. We are the simplest kind with two um municipalities, but it gets into boards that have more than nine towns and how votes can be weighted and how uh that has to be constantly changed and and shifted. So, I'm I'm I'm going to vote yes, but I do worry that if someone was looking at our bylaws to see how this law works, they're going to get lost in all that because there is quite a lot that's not relevant to Bridgewater Ritan. That said, it is

102recommended by stress as it is governance overall for regional school districts. So, it's probably can't it can't steer us wrong to have it there, but I do worry that I I do think it's possible that someone could get confused looking at it because I get a little bit. So, and most of it's not relevant. So, possibly in the future we could take a look at it if anyone's interested. That's one of those um questions that I often have whenever there is a stress estimate policy that has uh that deals with charter schools or other you know schools that don't apply to us. And usually the the response is well doesn't hurt to have it in. >> Yeah. >> Um >> and that's the feedback I know the administration prefers. So for now I'm certainly fine

103with it >> especially when this kind of law which is just a cut and paste from sorry this kind of policy which is cut and paste from the law. >> Thank you Mr. Pepe. Anyone else? >> Thank you. And thank you Dr. Fonder for sending that information along. >> Seeing no other comments, Mr. Alante, could you please call the RO? >> Mr. Lee? >> Yes. >> Miss Asuna? >> Yes. >> Mr. Jooshi? >> Yes. >> Miss Lan? >> Yes. >> Dr. Lee? >> Yes. >> Mr. Pepe? >> Yes. >> Mr. Walker? >> Yes. >> Miss Kalistri? >> Yes. >> Mr. Singer? >> Yes. The motion passes. We're going to move on to item number 13. Uh, old business. Is there any old business that needs to be brought? Uh, I'm going to bring up uh

104the board dorms. Um, most of the board at this point has ex uh signed on to these board dorms. Uh, if you have not, I ask that you come up uh after the meeting and sign the board norms as well. Uh, if there's nothing else on that. Okay, I'll move on to new business. Is there any new business? >> Um, I just have something brief. Um, I know, um, it's been mentioned to me, uh, that at the Hamilton school, some of our swings are like kind of rusty, like the handles and the chains, and that they might be a little bit too low to the ground at our Hamilton school playground. So, um, this was just a small issue that was brought up to me and I was wondering if like, you know, what sort

105of if someone could like take a look and maybe see, um, if we can >> that seems to me to be an issue that should be directed to the principal of that school and and not to the board. >> It was just mentioned to me, so I wanted to bring it. >> Okay. Well, so any complaints like that pursuant to policy are supposed to be directed to the superintendent. >> Yes. >> Oh, yeah. I'm I'm directing it now. So, this is not the proper form for that. The proper form would be to bring that to Mr. Beers's attention. >> Yes. So, then I then I can deal with it in real time versus waiting for a meeting. It it would be beneficial if you could just shoot me that email or give me a call

106and then I can figure it out. >> Is there any other certainly we'll look at that other new business? >> Just uh two things both dealing with the Burough of Ardan. Uh first I just wanted to mention September 21st is the John Basel parade. Um we had a great ceremony last fall to uh dedic to rededicate and install a memorial uh at the football field at Baselon Field. Um we have a uh great parade lined up. Two great um honored to have two World War II veterans serving as grand marshals including Mr. Roy Ruffa who was uh present at that ceremony. I know Mr. Moran helped get him there. Uh, which is wonderful. And it's wonderful that he's kind of become reinvolved with the Baselon Foundation and the community on on this thing. He is

107a, you know, an Army Air Force veteran. Um, went to Raritan schools his entire life up until Summerville High School. Currently lives in Scotch Plains and uh, we're thrilled that he's um, serving as a grand marshal. Also, Ben Jackson who was a Marine in the Second World War. Um, unbelievably, he'll be marching in this parade. He marched in a parade in Hawaii in July of 1944. He was part of the color guard that was held to honor a visit from Franklin Roosevelt. So, he was in that parade and he'll be marching um and leading the parade in in Rar. So, thank you to those gentlemen and all of our veterans. And in the spirit of that, um, there was a request from the, uh, Renboro Council, particularly Councilman Agarall, our relation, our our liaison, to

108have the board to seek the board support for a CHIP grant application. That's the county history partnership program, uh, which distributes money within Somerset County to, um, work on history projects. And uh in this case um it's identifying landmarks, identifying gold star homes uh homes that in the past or maybe currently had people serving who um uh sadly didn't make it back. And um we're going to they're looking to highlight that and they asked for the support of the district and the and and the board to support the application. And I know Mr. Singer helped to draft a letter and just wanted to bring that to the board's attention. >> Sure. and and you know I I did draft a letter for execution by by uh me and Mr. Pepe as liaison um supporting it.

109Um it will be of no cost to the district. Of course uh the uh public library of Ryan is also supporting this. Uh it could be I think a wonderful um uh tool for our students uh a field trip where they can learn about the history of Rididan and Raridan's uh particular um uh connection to uh to to the world wars and American uh revolution history. Uh, and so unless there's any objection from the board, um, I will be sending out a letter in support. Basically just saying that there >> I love it. I think it's great. >> Thank you very much, Mr. Sanger. And thank you to the board for supporting that. >> And I will send the copy of the letter to the board. >> Would it be better to have a resolution

110or a letter? I'm just asking because immediate time frame. I mean, a resolution I'd like to have ahead of time, but a letter will get it done now. >> He needs it by Thursday. >> Okay. So, yeah. Yeah, the request came right at the beginning of the school year. So, understandably board was busy with that. Um, and it was a quick application, so they thought it would help. >> I don't think it's necessary though. I was clear that they don't the >> No, but I think that we should support them. It's municipalities in this endeavor. >> I agree with your support. I was just would like the resolution versus letter. >> No, I appreciate. >> Next time if you don't mind. >> Understood. >> Any other new business? >> Bob, do you want to talk

111about the scheduling? Did you want to talk about this meeting about the choices for the options for about for the >> Oh, you wanted a uh >> Straw poll where people will sit. >> I'm sorry. Thank you, Barry, for reminding me that. >> Yes, I appreciate that, Barry. Um, you know, I I don't know if we could just take a moment and go around the table um just to see it because this is a large decision. It's going to affect a lot of people and it's important for us, the administrative team, to really hear where the board stands. Um, so I I don't know if we could go around >> before we do that though, can we have the you know, we were informed that Mr. Archer doesn't have a recommendation, but does the administration

112have a recommendation between the two options? >> Um, at this point, I want to hear what everyone says first. >> All right. >> I guess you >> Oh, good. So, so looking at them, I can see the merits of both. I I think that we need to I think there's moment of great opportunity. We need to you to um sorry say with the referendum obviously there were there were going to be changes. I think this is a natural outgrowth of that. Um looking at the two options I'm in favor of option two starting the high school a little bit later. Um going back to what we had what we what was in place before I was on the board about five or six years ago. I I do have some concerns about the primary school

113start times. I'd love to see those get pushed back a little bit if possible. But overall for the district, look, I think families have kids all different ages and I think families are going to be able to deal with what we within reason what they're presented with and I think they'll understand that all of these changes are being made for the benefit of kids and there are a lot of there's so many great opportunities coming along with the referendum. So, I I'm all that is to say right now I'm very much in favor of option two, but would love to see some tweaks on that. That's my only concern. and and I've heard the same thing from uh from Lucy as well is that to really see if we can condense those times in any

114way possible to to uh try to see what the efficiencies can bring us because that that it that is one of the potential outcomes where if we're able to trim certain routes and make things more efficient whether it's with stops etc that that you may be able to play with those times a little bit but that's what we're going to run through >> um everything Mike said, option two for me, >> just much more succinctly and less badly. So, >> yeah, I compliment the district. It's been a very strategic and well thoughtout process bringing out say agency and it was an optimization. I'm sure he looked at all different areas and multiple different things. Um, I like option two. Um, and I think it's the best option for optimizing our district and looking at the

115number of kids and putting effective stop start times in there for whatever. I mean, I'd love to get later all of them at the same time, but they just have the cost of time, but we're doing it. I think we're matching up as, you know, in the right rhythms of their their biological clocks and, you know, I think and the impact would be very minimal. I did some checking on some of the activities. The one activities at four o'clock is tennis for the township. So the tennis courts have lights. So that's the other side. So there are lights in those courts. So there are the opportunity that, you know, yeah, they're later. But I think the impact will be minimal. And as with anything, we're going to we they changed the last time. You know,

116we changed the last time and we're changing this time. I'm I'm glad that I like the idea that that kids aren't just lingering between the two o'clock and the four o'clock. You know, that mean they may get more pizza, the snacks, and the PTO, but I'm I'm on option, too. >> We're going to move on to Mr. Suna next. >> Thank you. Off the bat, I would say option two as a a parent who has now run the gamut of the entire district. Um, where I personally had the most flexibility and I would think a lot of other people do is that K through four time. It got more and more difficult um later. And honestly, Eisenhower was the most difficult for me because I was back trying to work and that time was just

117rough. So, having been through the whole thing, option two. >> Um, I can just say from personal experience that I've always been a late riser. So, you know, waking up at 6:00 a.m. in high school and going to the bus stop by 6:15 was a very, very unfun experience. Especially in the winter time, it's pretty brutal. And you know, my I was the first stop in the bus rides, so it was it was actually pretty terrible. You're right. Um nap. >> No, you don't really get a good nap in because the suspension in the buses are terrible and you're just bouncing around everywhere. Um, yeah. I mean, I'm speaking from my perspective as a student because this is where I really feel like I can add value and I can say, you know, I think

118looking at the transportation analysis, I'd love to see uh the middle school maybe moving a little bit later and I'd love to see the primary school moving a little earlier. Um, but kind of taking into consideration the fact that it really really is going to transform so many high schoolers lives. Um, the fact that, you know, the middle school doesn't change too much and I think even for a primary school level, right? I think later is better than too early for our primary school students. Um even if it is too late, which I agree it's not optimal. Um I would definitely say like option two would be something I'd want as a student myself. >> Thank you. I think I've spoken a lot. Um I'll be succinct this time. Uh I think I think that

119I like the idea of us looking at this. um both options in uh improved in instruction time. So I want to commend the administration and our consultant to look into that. However, at this point I cannot firmly stand behind either because because I think that we can do better in tightening up the operation and then I commend uh Mr. Beers in looking into a possibility of moving the later ones a little closer, a little earlier. So I I look forward to hear that and I'm not I'm not comfortable at this point supporting either because there's there's a later somewhat I feel like we should get out of that zero sum mentality. We can do better. Let's be innovative. I want to hear an a improvement on that. And thank you. Uh well, Jessica's not here

120to hear it, but uh we we fought a lot about this and and having seen the whole cycle from the beginning and um the advocacy not just by her, but by others and being in firm disagreement most of the time, um I have to say congratulations to Jessica for following through all the way to the end. Um and I think, you know, we can't lose sight of the fact that reducing the number of buses is a big deal. Like that's an efficiency in and of itself. So, if moving forward based on efficiency makes the most sense, I think option two is the most efficient. >> All right, I'm up. Um, I support option two as well. I'll start with that. My reasons are school start times for the high school I think is huge. We've

121been talking about this since I've been on the board. Um, so it's nice to see it might only be a half hour, but it's something. So, it's helping them get a little extra sleep. Um, >> what? >> Oh, 40. Sorry. Okay, even better. 40 minutes. Um the other thing I do agree with Dr. Lee that the elementary level is a little later. So if we could even fix it by five minutes that would be wonderful. Um so I'm definitely scoring two. I think it's a better option. And as Mrs. Lockan said we're helping cut costs. So everything is about how we can try to save money with rising costs. So I think that's really important. So I'm two. >> Yeah. Um, so on that topic, one of the reasons that we're in this situation in

122the very first place is that one of the reasons that the high school was so early is because it costs like because of the number of bus that we needed to have. Um, you know, we don't live in a in a perfect world where we can have um 8 a.m. for everyone or 8:30 for everyone. There are school districts that can do that and I commend them. There are school districts that are just walking and I We're not that. We have what? What are we? 25 square miles, Mr. Walker. You know that. 32 square miles. See, I knew it. I knew you knew it. Um and we have seven elementary schools. You know, I'm not saying anything that the people here don't already know. Uh it is not an ideal situation. Uh and we will

123are making the best of of an nonoptimal suboptimal uh uh uh situation. I also want to thank our uh administration um particularly Mr. Lumpky and Mr. Beers uh for putting in so much time and effort into this for following up on what he said uh years ago with uh we will deal with school start time when we deal with referendum. Um you have definitely done that. Um and as others have said, look, it's 40 minutes. It's great for kids. Um it's not the hour. Uh but you know, again, we don't live in that perfect world. So, we have to weigh all of our different considerations. Uh, with that, I also want to say that, you know, I mentioned before there are a lot of different considerations here. Athletics, uh, practicing, um, tutoring people with jobs,

124students with jobs, uh, teacher schedules, uh, daycare, all of that. And thankfully, we have incredibly uh, competent is not the right word because it seems dismissive. uh we have incredibly talented administration and staff who will rise to the occasion and deal with all the uh challenges that we face and turn them into opportunities I'm sure. So with that I am of course uh in favor of option number two. So with that, it seems basically unanimous 8 8 to1 and and again I I want to look at uh you know get some feedback from from everyone but this definitely appears to be the direction uh that we're going to be headed and there may be some iterations of this but um you know that's certainly um the option that we'll work towards and and push towards.

125Thank you, M. >> Sure. >> I I think it was not certain that I'm not certain that we actually took took a vote to say 821. >> I'm not saying that I I don't think we're we're voting now. What I had wanted to see is a territory operation. >> Okay. I believe that you were heard in that regard. >> All right. Thank you. >> With that, um we're going to go into close session um to discuss negotiations. Uh, I will say that normally when I say we're going into close session, I say we will not uh be voting on anything when we come back. That is not what I'm saying this time. Uh, as I discussed before, the personnel section is being moved to the end of the agenda. Uh, we will come out of

126close session and we will then vote on the personnel uh section of the agenda. Uh, so if you want to stick around for that, you're welcome to. Uh, if you don't, it will also be streamed. Uh, correct? So um you can see the outcome of that vote on the stream. Uh but with that I'm going to state that uh where am I here? Whereas discussion by the board is required on matters that are exceptions to the requirement that a public body hold its meetings in public and whereas the topics for discussion are negotiations whereas it is expected that the deals details of the discussion may be made public as soon as the issues may be acted upon publicly. be resolved that the board enters into close session at this time. >> All in favor? >>

127Anyone opposed? We are in close session. As I said before, we will come back out, have a vote, and then we have another close session after that. Why don't we take a five minute recess so that people can use the restroom as needed? >> Yes. Great. Okay, we're back from close session. We're back from close session into open session. Um, uh, the next item on our agenda is personnel 2607 through personnel 26 >> 10, right? Because we have to walk in the memorandum of understanding between the bar. >> Is that correct? >> Should we do that first just in case? >> Well, that's why I'm asking it like we're just adding it on to the agenda that way. >> Right. We could just amend the agenda. We don't need to have a a mo vote

128as long as the board is clear about what they're voting on. We want to just simply as a you know matter of note for the public sake that we're adding a 10th agenda item that is the memorandum of agreement with the BREA. uh and just note the and the writer to the memorandum of agreement. So there's a MOA and the writer to the MOA. That's what the board will be voting on if it's not already on the agenda. Yes, we can just note that that's um uh number 10 you said was it? >> Personnel 2610. >> Okay. >> Thank you, Mr. >> Simply note that when when the motion it's it's 1 through 10. >> Uh 7 through 10. >> 7 through 10, excuse me. >> No, it's so personnel 2610 is a walk-in. So,

129because we had the discussion, we can now walk that item in. Uh, we've already had discussion on 2610 and anything else would really have to be back in close session, I would assume, because it's a personnel item. Uh, so with that, I'm just going to ask Mr. WKY to call the role on again personnel 2607 through 26. >> Do we have a motion? >> Nope. I need a motion for personnel 2607 through 2610. We have a motion now. Thank you. And we have a second. Mr. Lumsky, could you please call the role? >> Mr. Lee, >> yes. >> Mr. Sunna, >> yes. >> Mr. Jooshi, >> yes. >> Miss Locker, >> yes. >> Dr. Lee, >> yes. >> Mr. Pepe, >> I'm going to abstain on the entire motion. >> Mr. Walker, >> yes. >>

130Miss Kistri, >> yes. >> Mr. Singer, >> going to abstain on personal 2610. Yes to everything else. >> The motion passes. And uh thank you very much. We're now going to go back into >> we're now going back into close session individual uh I keep doing that. Whereas discussion by the board is required on matters that are exceptions to the requirement that a public body hold its meetings in public and whereas the topics for discussion are superintendent evaluation whereas it is expected that the details of the discussion may be made public as soon as the issues may be acted upon publicly. Be it resolved that the board enters into close session at this time. So second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Anyone opposed? And unlike the last time, the only thing that we

131will be voting on when we come out of close session is a motion to adjurnn. So there will be no action items to be voted on for the rest of this evening. Thank you.