001United States of America nation indivisible with liberty and justice for [Music] all here Mr. Gian here Mrs. Miller here Mr. Pender here Mr. Peny here Mr. Celber here Mr. Chapman Mr. Casio. In accordance with terms of the sunshine law, adequate notice of this meeting was posted in all school buildings, the administration building, and since the burough clerk's office, public library, three newspapers, and cafe on December 12th, 2024, there is no schooling on school grounds inside or outside at any time. Please silence all electronic devices. And pursuant to district policy number 0167, each statement made by participants shall be limited to 3 minutes duration and no participant must be appointed once in the same topic. Thank you. Superintendent report. Thank you, Mr. PCY. Uh, this evening we have two presentations from two of our wonderful elementary
002schools. Our first presentation is from Riley School. So, I'm going to ask Mr. Coffman to come up and join us at the podium. Mr. C uh Coffman is the Riley School principal. I believe you are going to be telling us about Tiger Tales, uh, the program that's running in the schools and also you are going to be introducing us to your amazing students. So, when you're ready, thank you very much. Uh, yeah. So, I I I brought along obviously. Is it not? Is that working? There we go. You know, Mrs. Bler told me the button. I still didn't do it. Um, yes. Thank you, Dr. Tany. Smile, please. Wave. Say hi. So, unfortunately, not all of our Tiger Tail members can make it today. Um, they have a lot of other commitments as you can
003see. They are leaders both in and out of the school, but the ones that are here, I'm very proud to have them with me today. So to give a little background, um, Tiger Tales is new this year at all the elementary schools. It is a homegrown program that our guidance department has created, uh, and basically is a peer leadership program that is takes place during the school day uh, at all the elementaryaries. So basically, who is involved? Our fourth graders are our leaders. And they, everyone that is in our Tiger Tail program had to apply to be there. They wanted they they chose to do this. They got the recommendations from their teachers. They wrote their own essays as to why they want to be part of the program. And they are our leaders in
004the building. They work on a monthly basis with kindergarten classes to help them learn certain skills which we'll get to later in the presentation. And they do this. They meet during their own lunches with our school counselor. They give up their time throughout the day to go over, practice, rehearse all their lessons that they do, and they give up their time to go into the classrooms and work with our kindergarten students. They meet once a month with them. And it really has helped form a strong bond in our building from our smallest children to our ones who will be taking us really soon. That makes me sad every time I think about it, guys. So, what does Tiger Tales participant do? They have fun lessons every month. They learn to be a good role model,
005which is key to helping them develop. They become part of our community. They are our our go-tos in the building. Um, and they actually help new students. We actually have a few new students that started this week. And our Tiger Hill members are the first ones that bring them in the building, let them know where they're going, make sure they feel comfortable, sit with them at lunchtime, you know, and that's fun to build those relationships and those new partnerships when they come in. And throughout the year, they earn their stripes. Um when we look at that, what does that mean? Our strengths are our monthly themes. So every month we have a theme in the building which our Tigers talk to their students about. We started with how to form new friendships. Moved on to
006taking the lead and being a leader in the building. Worked about respecting everyone's differences, including everyone, which is key especially during recess time. persevering and never giving up, which is a very hard skill for elementary students to understand, but we work on that every day. Uh, next month we're looking at encouraging everyone to do their best their best and in May will stand up for others. And throughout the year, every time they complete one of these lessons, they earn one of their stripes. Our tiger doesn't do the dance as well as Mr. Vier does, so you'll see that later. But these are our core values for our program. At the end of the year, we have a culminating activity where all of our Tiger Tales get together and celebrate their hard work throughout the school
007year. So, that's just a brief overview of our program, what we do, and what it's for. These are our leaders at Riley, and I wanted to take a minute just to celebrate them this evening. Their hard work, their dedication, and everything they've done to make Riley a great place, a fun environment, and a place where students want to come to school. And it starts with them, the students, taking ownership of the building, taking ownership of the climate of the school, and truly being role models for those younger students to look up to. So, from me to you, thank you. You deserve the recognition tonight. You've been amazing all year, so keep it up. [Applause] Oh, shut off. Sorry. So, should I pass on Mr. Fiero? Um, can I ask you, would you mind introducing your
008students and then we'll walk across so you could Sure. Of course. Um, you are here. I'm going to let you do it. Come on up. Say your names. Go ahead. Hey, Mariana. Good job. My name is Natalia. My name is Charles. My name is Daniela. My name is Ariel. My name is Leila. My name is Leo. Thank you very much. I promised that they would have to talk when I do shake your hand. Thank you for all you do. Thank you for being here. Thank you for all you do. Great job. Great stuff. Really great. Great job. Great job. [Music] That's like [Music] this is I think we should see the video and then a live demo. Oh my god. Go out. [Music] Thank you, Riley School. We now have Mr. Vier, principal at uh
009Roosevelt School and he is going to tell us about the Roosevelt dance challenge uh for charity and a presentation from the fourth grade chorus performing a song for you on the historical tradition uh rich there in Roosevelt. So called Roosevelt's Children. So Mr. Bear when you're ready. I am ready. And first thing I'd like to do is I'd like to ask a question. Press the button. First thing I would like to do is ask you a question to everyone in this audience except for you guys. I know the answer for you. Is anyone here a graduate of Roosevelt School right here? All right. Do you remember the Roosevelt? You all remember? All right. that that's how long this song's been in existence. I'm going to tell you just a quick story before you sing. I
010was cleaning out the uh closets when I first got the job as a principal of Roosevelt School and I came across this picture uh of Roosevelt School and I thought, "Oh, that's pretty cool. I'm going to put that and hang that in my office." And then underneath it there was when I made the copy for you guys, the Roosevelt School song, which I didn't know there was such a thing that existed. So, I tried to inquire about. I started asking around to some of our more veteran teachers, is there a Roosevelt School song in the school? And they said, "Yes, there is. In fact, it's been here for generations upon generations." But what happened was it somehow went dormant for a few years during the co years because we weren't in school and I decided,
011you know what, this is such a rich tradition. I want to bring it back. So, I have to find out a little bit about it. And I inquired all the way back and actually had a phone call with a man by the name of Dr. Uh Mario, I don't know if you know remember the name. The man is still working. Uh he's in his 60th year of education this year and um he gave me the whole story about 1972. He asked his music teacher to please write a song to boost morale. And that music teacher probably didn't want to do it, but wrote a song. And little does he know that this song is still here 53 years later. And I am proud to say that Miss Vex has increased our chorus from 30 people
012to 103. 104. Now she's up to 14 in just third and fourth grade. There's 200 kids in third and fourth grade. 104 of them are in chorus. So I'm going to let you take it away from here, Miss Fex. Usually this is done on piano. We've we've adjusted it so it's a bit more portable. Today with ukulele, can you all hear? All right. Loud and proud. Are you ready? But beautiful. Loud and proud and beautiful. 1 2 3 1 2 We are about children and we're here to celebrate living, learning, and growing in a school that's really great. Our land consists of different people, each unique in many ways. It matters not if you're short or tall, black or white. Great or small, we are Roosevelt's children and we're here to celebrate. Living, learning, and
013growing in a school that's really great. We all have a chance to see to be the best that we can be. Sing it loud. Sing it round the bell. We love you. [Applause] And um before you guys I'm going stay right there because I'd like you to be able to if it's okay with you take a lot to shake hands. But before you do that want to show you a quick video cuz we are into the arts. If you call If you call, you know what art we're going to do. But we're into the arts. There's the singing. We had a little dancing. We had a challenge given to us if we could, if the students could raise over $1,500 in pity wars for the victims of the California wildfires. We would do a Tik
014Tok dance for them. I reluctantly agreed to this, but here it is. [Music] You want to put the mic over by [Music] when they said [Applause] I said that's good because I was freestyle. All right. Great job for our by our chorus. Carter, we're going to start with you. You go follow Carter all the way through the board. Quick handshakes. Great job everybody. Great job. Now you are here. [Applause] Oh yeah. Oh yeah. [Music] I'm [Music] not. Oh, I Please don't leave. They're They're moving over to the side for a quick picture. No. Oh, wait. Really? [Music] I wonder if we got some back. [Music] If you wouldn't mind, I just like to I would just like to say something while the uh while our students are over there getting their pictures. For those of
015you who haven't had uh the opportunity to bring through the agenda for tonight or no word from the viewers yet, uh Mr. Fier, Mr. Pier, Mr. Fier, sorry, Mr. Fier is listed on the agenda this evening as retiring. Mr. Fier is retiring from our school district after 28 years in education and eight years here in our district. first as a director of guidance and most recently as a principal of Roosevelt School. I personally would like to thank you, Sam, for all that you do and all that you've done and continue to do for the students in our district. You have been a pleasure to work with. You're always upbeat. You can clearly tell you will do anything. You're willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done. You have been my co-host for
016I can't tell you how many numerous Zoom meetings throughout the years along with many Tiger TV commercials that we've all had the opportunity to see. You are a superstar around here and you will be sadly missed. Thank you very much. I miss you, too. I just want to say thank you very much to everybody on the board of education, especially my superintendent who believed in me from the start and uh you know, decided to take on a chance of a guy who was going to drive an hour and a half each way. she stuck with me through it and I appreciate it and I'm here and uh I never planned to stay uh when I first started because I thought I don't know if I could do this but it was just such a great
017place and such a great community that I could never ever think that I could leave until I turned 55 in and Florida said Sam I think I need you. So the winters were getting to me and uh I decided you know I had a good run but thank you so much for being here tonight and being here with the kids. I appreciate it. Thank you. [Applause] We're just going to wait for just another couple minutes because we we want to uh hear everything that Maria has to tell us in her student reports. We're just going to wait for a few minutes until we either take our seats or I know are [Music] again. So we are going to have our student uh presentation our student presentation from Maria. Maria is our student representative this evening.
018She's also the senior president a member of softball team a member of the cool kids mental health awareness club and a member of our national honor society. Thanks for joining us and oh I love her. I'm happy the painting is beautiful. Thank you. Thank you so much. Good evening everyone. My name is Maria and I am making your class together. I would like to take a moment to share some of the recent events that we've heard at the high school and highly coming up. Our spring sports have begun and I can't wait to see what my classmates have. On March 4th, my fellow seniors and I visited the elementary schools to read across America where we read stories to the students and help them create graphic content. The following day, we had our winter pep
019rally where we acknowledged all of our winter athletes. The seniors took first in two out of the three competitions, which keeps us in the lead for battle classes. Additionally, South Olympics team led by students Audi Shaw, Will Bond, and Gavin Sylvester recently competed in the first inspires robotics competition. This competition changes its objectives each year, tasking students to invent and build new mechanisms for their robots. This year, teams were challenged to build robots that could pick up and throw large balls, place narrow cylind cylinders onto pegs, and grasp chains to lift themselves up off the ground. Robots work together in teams of three, trying to score more points than the opposing team. At the Mid-Atlantic District event, Tiger Tech Robotics teamed up with Nemesis and the Midnight Inventors to win the overall event. Our annual
020district music festival also took place and was a great success. We hosted the National Honor Society Duncan ceremony as well as a ceremony for the Italian, French, Spanish, and art honor societies. Last week, the juniors spent the morning taking the NJ GPA test, which went great. Coming up, our eighth grade scheduling meetings will take place where they will start to select classes for next year at the high school as freshmen. On Tuesday and Wednesday, our drama club will be heading to the elementary schools to promote this year's play, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The production will take place on April 4th and April 5th at 7:00 p.m. and again on April 6th at 2 p.m. Tickets are $10 each and are available through the SBHS drama club and can be purchased online. I am also
021happy to announce that our prom ticket sales will begin on March 31st. Seniors should keep an eye out for more information. Tickets will sell for $105. Prom will be held at the Maragold in Somerset on June 5th. The 2025 local scholarship application is now open. The deadline is Monday, April 14th. Seniors should take advantage as the applications will open you up to many local scholarships. Tiger 24 will be held on Saturday, March 22nd in the high school gym. The day begins at 3 p.m. with activities for children and families in the community. This year, there will be games, crafts, and face painting. The cost is $5 per family. At 600 p.m., the doors open for the high school students to begin practicing for the volleyball tournament that starts at 7:00. Spence seats are welcome. The
022entrance fee is $3 and students should see Miss Kriskowski or Miss Barrymore for more information. We hope you can attend this year's event, the 20th year of power 24. Money is money raised is used to help those in need within our community. Lastly, cultural heritage day will be on April 1st and we will follow an all bell schedule for the day. Further details and information will be forthcoming as for how that day will run. And I would also like to thank the board of education and Mr. Poscolo for giving me the opportunity to speak at these meetings and to share the highlights and experiences of student life here at SHS. Thank you. One last uh one last reminder to our parents and guardians. We have a preschool information meeting scheduled for tomorrow evening online at
0236 p.m. You can find the link on the district website. Uh you must register to attend the meeting. Uh I will be on the meeting as well as uh Mr. is out of the preschool uh principal and all of our district personnel to provide information regarding the program as well as what you need to do in order to enter into the lottery. As of right now, we have 250 uh people registered to be a part of the meeting. And if you are currently if you currently have a child that's enrolled in attending the three-year-old program, you do not need to reregister for the lottery. Those students will roll directly into the four-year-old program. Everybody else who's interested in attending must um be a part of the lottery. So my suggestion is you please go on
024and uh and register so that you get all the information from the meeting. Thank you. Thank you. Um member comments on presentations. I just want to say those kids were so good. I mean it's so nice to watch. I I love what they're doing with the fourth grade pure leadership for a lack of a better word because I think that's just such a great spot to start in and to get these kids used to helping and um it it's just it's a it's a wonderful program that he started there and Sam's got over two five kids in that easy program. 104. Wow. I mean that's just there's 200 kids and he's got more than half. That's that's really great. They were so good and high saw was pretty good. I did for every school. just
025great job. Yeah, just to piggy back on what Jim said, the kids were great and to see programs like that, the elementary schools are just a beginning of lifelong uh leadership um programming for the kids and the singing was great and uh you know to see songs like that the high school has an alma mater song and all that so it keeps the traditions alive. want to thank Maria for all her time and report keeping us up to date with uh what's happening in the high school and um you'll you'll keep keep it up. I know you're not going to be here again, but uh let let people know what uh you and the other students are doing in town and other than that. Sure. Um great job Marian giving us the high school update.
026We really appreciate it. it um was very informative and we always love hearing what's going on with the high school. So, thank you very much and good luck next year whatever you're doing. Um for Ry School um we really appreciate getting that update on Tiger Tales. It was really informative and I'm glad to see that all our elementary schools are doing it. It's a really nice program and the kids are doing a wonderful job. They're excellent role models for the younger kids and you know we just need that in our school districts. I think it's a wonderful program. Um, and to Roosevelt, um, the course did a great job with the presentation. Um, the school song, that was a great thing that they found and really cute. And I agree with Jimmy. Every every all
027of our schools should have their own little song, you know. Um, okay. Yeah, we'll we'll get work working on that. Um, and a great performance by um, the staff at Roosevelt School with their danceon or dance contest. And I think Sam may have a little bit of a second career going to talk. Yeah. It'd be okay. I forgot one thing. I'm so sorry. Sorry. I didn't thank you. And the reason why I didn't is because to be honest with you, I never realized you guys are kids. The way you present yourselves and the way you hold yourselves is is like you're one of us. So, I'm sorry about that. And that was a great job. Thank you, Maria. Wonderful report. Uh, and best of luck to you. Have you narrowed down what your next steps
028look like? Um, I will be attending Moravian University next year for nursing. That's wonderful. You're going to you're going to do amazing things. Um, and to our Roosevelt our our Roosevelt and and Riley students, that was a a wonderful presentation uh with both Tiger Tales and with the chorus. Um just our our students are amazing and and that's a testament to to the staff and and the leadership that is working with them and and shaping them into the leaders that they are. Thank you. Any other comments? Right. Um agenda additions or deletions. Other comments on the agenda of items. Uh then we resolution to approve prior board meeting minutes. So move. Second. Discussion. Roll call, please. Mr. Both. Yes. Mr. Aspen. Yes. Mr. Ganakus. Yes. Mrs. Miller. Yes. Mr. Pender. Yes. Mr. Celberg. Yes. Mr.
029Peny. Yes. Curriculum A through C. So move second. Discussion. Roll call. Mr. B. Yes. Mr. Aspen. Yes. Mr. Giannakis. Yes. Mrs. Miller. Yes. Mr. Pender. Yes. Mr. Tessleberg. Yes. Mr. Py. Yes. There's no policy personnel. Personnel A through C. So move. Second. Discussion. I just stay on A through D. I see A through Is there a D? There's a D. [Music] summer. Okay. So, we have to do it again, right? 8 second. Second discussion. Roll call, please. Mr. B. Yes. Abstain on 12D number 73 and number 115. It's my spouse. Mr. Espen, yes. Mr. Giannakis, yes. Mrs. Miller, yes. Mr. Pender, yes. Mr. Custleberg, yes. Mr. Yes. Finance A through R. So move. Second. Discussion. Roll call, please. Mr. B. Yes. Mr. Espen. Yes. Mr. Jakus. Yes. Mrs. Miller. Yes. Mr. Per. Yes. Mr. Zelberg.
030Yes. Mr. May. Yes. Uh public comments on anything. Seeing none board member comments. Bill. Yes. Thank you. Um I had the opportunity to attend the district music festival earlier this month and it was fabulous. I was there for the whole thing. Just the number of kids and the talent up there. not not just with the the students, but the staff getting it all together and keeping it all uh in time. And it was one of Mr. Fier's last public appearances as an MC. He did a great job. Everybody up there and it's just a pleasure to see the the advancement and the um the size of the musical groups up there. And I made a comment to Miss Meline. I mean, did she have everybody from grade school in that chorus? You know, it was
031like over a hundred. They really did a good job. Um, I also wanted to mention that the high school will be doing Charlie and the Chocolate Factory April 4th and 5th at 7:00 p.m. and April 6th at 2 p.m. They've been working very hard on this and they're going into the elementary schools to promote it. But it if uh it it's great to see the kids do um theater and they hit they're working it in amongst all their sports schedules and everything else. So, they deserve the support. I also had the chance to do Weed Across America at Roosevelt School. They gave me some weird book that I'd never heard of. But I did a second grade class and that the kids were very receptive, very attentive and it's an enjoyable thing I do every
032year. And u last thing I just want to say good luck to Sam and the other retirees as they move on. And Sam will be humming that Roosevelt School song as he's retiring down in Florida, I'm sure. So other than that, uh that's it. Thank you, sir. I just want to to reiterate what Bill just said. Sam, while he's only been here for 8 years, it feels like he's been a part of the fabric of this district forever and he's just he's just a tremendous tremendous administrator. I mean, his when he led the guidance department, I know they all loved him there. He did a great job. And as a principal, how do you not love him? Mhm. He's just a great guy and he's going to be really missed and big shoes to fill.
033I mean, you know, they say nobody's job is is irreplaceable. Sometimes it's a little harder than others. So, he will be missed. Um, congrats to all the other retirees and best of luck to everybody. Oh, where are we before you? Yeah. Any others? Uh, just talking about San Fier real quickly. He came in as the director of guidance when I was a student here. Um, and he's someone that's truly invested in all of his students. So, I just want to thank him for the work that he that he's done and that he will do through June. Um, and and hope he enjoys his retirement, that he's not a stranger. I also want to say um best of luck to our our students uh in in as the as the as the theater performance uh takes
034place at the start of next month. Um and um I just want to say congratulations to all of our fall athletes as they uh wrapped up their season or uh if they continued into the postseason. uh just all of their work that that they've put into their sports and in their programs. Um amazing work uh to to just put yourself out there and continue and and and participate in your sport and compete. Um and that goes to to robotics and to our other programs as well. Um and to our music students as well with uh the district festival. Uh amazing job by them as well. Sure. [Music] Okay. Um, yeah, I just wanted to read it. I know what everybody else has been saying about Sam. I mean, I'll say something to him in June
035before his retirement, but he was a beloved. So, yeah. Yeah. Administrator. and he really when he got to the high school he really overhauled that guidance department. It really needed some changing and he stuck to it and did a great job. And then with you Norine he accompanied you all during the pandemic. You guys held those um you know special meetings, virtual meetings with everybody. He was right there by your side. And then in Roseville school everybody loves him. So he's really really going to be missed. And I agree it was Jimmy that said um you know we feel like he's been here forever because it feels like he's been here 25 years. Yeah, it's only been 8 years. So, you know, good luck to him and we'll miss them. All right. Second session resolve
036pursuant to open public meetings act that the board meets in close session at this time of confidential matters pertaining to attorney client privilege and personnel. Be it further resolved that matters discussed in close session shall be made public as soon as the need for confidence or no longer exists. Can I have so move? Second. Second. All in favor. No action. No action on the date.