001Good evening everyone. Apologize for the for the slight delay. Um, the executive session of the Wayne Board of Education regular meeting of May 21st, 2026 was convened in the conference room of the Wayne Board of Education, 50 Ellis Drive, Wayne, New Jersey. Statement of compliance setting forth day, time, and location was read in requirements of the open public meetings act. The roll call was taken. The meeting is now being reconvened. Please stand for the flag salute followed by a moment of silence. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you everyone. Please be seated. will ask me to believe that. All right. recognitions. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Um, I
002would like to remind everyone even though it was last week, it was special education week in New Jersey that took place from uh May 10th to May 16th. Um, there are over 20 240,000 children in the state of New Jersey classified under special education with an IEP. Uh, and I just like to recognize our staff uh here at our Wayne Township Public Schools who do an amazing job uh with our special needs population. Um there are families that give so much to the children with special needs and and the students themselves. But as a educational leader uh spending time in the classrooms um spending time in those classrooms where teachers um have different method methodologies um like be uh being part of the behavioral plans and putting uh all the measures in place to make
003sure that our students stay on task. You know, sometimes you're there and students are timed and um rewards are put in place um after only a few seconds just to keep the students on task because of the needs that that they're so much hand-tohand um requirements to to keep these students on task. And it is really heartbreaking sometimes to be in the classroom if you're not used to it. I know I couldn't do it. I I know that we have very special gifted teachers um who take that lead every day and empower professionals to take that lead every day to work with these exceptional children um to be the the lifeline to their parents about what's going on during the course of the day. Um so I'm very grateful uh for the staff and what
004they do and they're an exceptional part of our community and make us richer and make us better. So, I just want to take the time with the board to recognize special education week uh here in New Jersey. We also want to um take this time to I'm going to really I'm I'm going to probably transfer over there to the deis because we have um some recognition for >> Yeah. >> Can we just read a resolution in for special ed week? >> Sure. Please do that while I'm transfer over. >> Mr. Aquin. >> All right. at Dwayne Township Board of Education resolution recognizing special education week in New Jersey. Whereas Special Education Week in New Jersey is recognized from May 10th through May 16th, 2026 as a time to honor the achievements of students who receive
005special education services and recognize the dedicated professionals and families who support them. And whereas the Wayne Township Board of Education recognized that every student has unique strengths, abilities, and potential, and that all students deserve access to meaningful educational opportunities, appropriate appropriate support, and in school environment where they are valued and respected. And whereas special education programs and services in the Wayne Township public schools help students grow academically, socially, emotionally, and personally while supporting their independence, confidence, and long-term success. And whereas the board recognizes the hard work and commitment of the special education teachers, general education teachers, power professionals, child study members, related service providers, administrators, nurses, counselors, support staff, and all others who work each day to meet the individual needs of our students. And whereas the board also recognizes the important role of parents
006and families whose advocacy, partnership, trust, and support are essential to the success of students receiving special education services. And whereas the Wayne Township Board of Education remains committed to supporting inclusive practices, appropriate programs, strong communication, and continued collaboration among students, families, staff, and the community. Now therefore, be it resolved that Dwayne Township Board of Education hereby recognizes May 10th through May 16, 2026 as Special Education Week in New Jersey and extends its sincere appreciation to all students, families, educators, and staff who make special education as essential um as a part of the Wayne Township Public Schools. And be it further resolved that the board celebrates the accomplishments of our students and reaffirms its commitment to providing all students with the support, respect, and opportunities they need to succeed. >> Thank you. So, as a representative,
007speaking for the board, and I I know the board has the same level of respect and appreciation for our two outgoing student representatives. Um, I would like them to come and join me with Deas as we recognize them. We have for each of you, uh, Zach and Caitlyn, if you can come on over. We have a a moment to thank you um an award for your contributions to our board and to our community through all of your work. >> The board also did um wanted to wish you well and congratulate you as you graduate high school. Put you on your way with a nice Amazon gift card. >> Thank you so much. can help. >> I know as a father of a fourth son going into college, those Amazon lights that go around the the
008ceiling of your dorm room don't by themselves. So hopefully that'll that will come in handy for you. Um, Zach is leaving us to go to Bucknell University in the fall where he'll be majoring in finance and minoring in real estate. And Caitlyn will be attending the University of Illinois at Champagne this fall where she'll be in majoring in engineering. What a great accomplishment for both of you. Thank you so much. So, >> I know I prepared you with some questions >> about your experiences here. So, if you each take a time turn to come up and answer them, I'll I'll step out of the way. Thank you. >> Um, so, Zach, you can answer first. How has serving as a student representative encouraged you to serve your community in the in the future? >> So,
009serving here, um, it showed me how much has Oh, sorry. So serving here has showed me how much goes into the behind the scenes of everything from prek through 12th graders. And there's really so much work that goes behind everything from every one of you to the superintendent to all the representatives here that we don't see as students. And it just gave me such a a great view into this and I'm truly blessed to have the opportunity to come here each month and observe this. >> Thank you. Same question to you, Caitlyn. Sorry. >> Um, serving as a student representative, I've gotten to really experience a lot of different perspectives from different students, and I've really learned about advocating for someone bigger than myself and a bigger community. So, I hope when I go to
010college, I can use what I've learned here. And I want to help the kids in the nearby high schools, middle schools, elementary schools by my college because I'm really grateful for the education that this school board's given me and all the other students in the town and watching every month as people come here to rally for their different ideas and all that they want and just getting to see our community work together. I want to build that community in other places, too. >> All right. So, why don't you stay there and I'll do the second question if you could answer it first. So, after continuing with your education, when you're finished, how do you think you can come back and uh give back to your community? >> Okay. Um, after completing my education, I'd want
011to come back to help younger students because I know what it's like to not feel like you can't do something. I want to make sure all students feel supported, that they're like their creativity, their needs, their wants, their they have no bounds. I've been one of two girls on a robotics team. I know what it's like to not feel like you belong, and no kid should feel like that. I want every kid to feel like whatever their dreams are, art, cooking, engineering, anything, I want them to belong and I want them to build confidence. >> Excellent. Thank you, Zach. Same question to you. How will you give back to the community after returning from school? >> So, honestly, the best thing I could do is come back and maybe be a superintendent or a board
012member. Yes. But um on a more serious note, I just hope that I can use the skills and education I've gained through my experience here to just give back through like volunteering experiences, uh community projects, or even just speaking to students about future opportunities because there's so many things to do and I would love to be the vessel that that helps them and lets them know what they can do and all the opportunities they have in Wayne and everything that everybody here fuels and helps create. >> Amazing. Thank you. So, don't go anywhere yet because I have I I have a surprise question for you, too. But I I I do want to say this because you're going to Bucknell. It's just interesting. >> When I first became superintendent here, you're like one of the
013first students I came across. You came over, you introduced yourself and you played line for the football team. Big kid and going to Bucknell. This past weekend, one of the first students I ever came across just like that, played line for the football team in my previous school district, went to Bucknell and I just saw him this past weekend. He's now uh finishing as a physician's assistant. So, it was just uh amazing that I just caught up with him after so many years and you're going to Bucknell as well. So, one last question >> because you guys are great at answering questions and it really shows how wonderful our our school system and our staff uh prepares our students for the future. Um, just give me your favorite high school memory. >> Wow. >> But
014Caitlin gets Caitlyn gets a little extra time. Um, my favorite high school memory is probably it has to be involved with football because I've spent so much time like playing football and all my energy year round. It's a year- round sport for us. I think my favorite memory is probably going to Las Vegas our junior year. I think every single day hanging out with my friends there, it was just the most fun I've ever had. And I can't even pinpoint a moment within that. But we were so lucky to have that opportunity. And that can also be attributed to the board of education and everything that we get from this Wayne school system. It was just the some of the greatest times I've ever had and I I cherish those memories. >> Okay, come on
015over this way. We'll let Caitlyn answer that question. >> All right. It was kind of hard. I think that my favorite moment would be when I was a junior and I went to DECA states for the first time because it was really fun to kind of be on your own and you were still in a learning environment and you got to try all these new things, but you didn't have a teacher and you didn't have your parents, but you were just going to these events. You were professional. You met new people. You interviewed and I felt like that was a time where I got to really learn about myself and about like the business process, the interviewing process, anything like that. I got to experience it with my best friends and it was really an
016amazing experience that I'm glad other students get to have even when I leave. I know we're we're literally planning a decade to teach kids so that more kids can go to states because it really helps our students and they love it. So that was probably my favorite part. >> Okay, so don't go anywhere. One more. Just one more because you're so good at this. So you know my mantra this year is way better than Wayne. >> Oh yeah. >> All right. So you had a choice to make a few years back, four years back. I'm sure there's lots of places you could have gone to high school. Tell anyone listening why it was way better for you to go to Wayne Hills or Wayne Valley. Why was it way better to go to Wayne here?
017And why should they make that same decision? >> No. >> Um so as the youngest of three brothers, I kind of had no choice. But um every every single thing that they told me about Wayne Hills, and I'm sure this can also apply to Wayne Valley, it just proved that it's it it was the best option for me. And Wayne Hills and Wayne Valley are successful each year at sending students to the top schools and putting students in the best industries possible and continuously leading students to whatever job they would like after their education is finished. And it prepared me so well for my future endeavors. And I think that there's no other place I would want would have want to go than Wayne Hills. >> Great answer. Thank you. >> Okay. For me, I
018think that Wayne Valley, I would always choose it. I would never choose Wayne Hills, though. Um, and I think that Wayne Valley would always be the best decision for me because of how diverse everything that you can do is. There's so many opportunities for so many different types of students. I know we have an amazing like auto program. Yesterday we had a whole car show actually. And then we have a child development program where I know girls who really want to be teachers and they love it and they go teach their students. And then I know the physics program. We have the business program. We have so many different avenues for students to go down. I know kids that love theater. I know kids that love cooking. Like there's literally everything. And I don't think
019I might have been given this at a particular school that focused on one area. I think we're good at sports. I think we're good at academics. I think we're a community. We build community. And we have people that love it here. So I think I would always pick it. Great job. Thank you so much. Enjoy your Thank you so much. >> Guys, on behalf of the board, I, you know, want to express our thanks for all the time you put in here, your efforts, and the maturity that you brought to the role. um you attended a lot of meetings and you had I'm sure you both had a ton of other things going on in your lives that you'd rather be at, but thank you for being the voice of your schools and sharing with
020us about your schools and what's happening in your schools so we get a better understanding of the student experience because when we understand that helps us in the decisions we have to make up here. Thank you. I wish you the both the both the best of luck and I'm sure you'll be very successful in the future. Thank you. >> Just I just have a few more things, Mr. President. Go ahead. >> Okay. Um, as part of the superintendent report, I'll just roll right into that. Um, I did want to state that I Yes, I did attend that auto show as well. Uh it was a combined show of uh automotive students from Wayne Valley and Wayne Hills. Really quite impressive. Um I didn't get a chance to put on my social media yet, but I
021will. Uh I'm so impressed by the students that use that creativity, that drive, and I think Caitlyn said it best. There's so many opportunities for our students. And you know, some students like to go go to going to high school look for opportunities that will bring them into the college careers. Some will take opportunities that maybe to serve our nation. Others will go into the vocational tech technology positions. And every one of those opportunities or choices that you make is a great investment in your future. Uh, one of the things I love to say about like the auto programs and so forth, it's a great opportunity that can never ever be um, shipped overseas. It could never be outsourced. You always will have to have someone hands-on to help fix your car. Especially today's cars.
022You know, it used to be, you know, I'd get under my car and I was a young guy and I'd change the oil. I couldn't even even find an oil filter on a car today without a lift and everything else because there's just so much technology that goes into them. To have that skill set really means you're promised a career for the rest of your life. So, I was a great showing at the auto program yesterday and I was happy to be there. Um, something also of first for me this year as a superintendent. Uh, I've been to a powderpuff game, um, but I've never been to an interscolastic, uh, New Jersey flag football game. And the game between Wayne Valley and Wayne Hills was amazing. Um, these aren't just uh, young ladies who are
023picking up a football for a hobby. These are athletes who showed true athleticism and motivation and drive and and real skill sets out there, and I'm hooked. I I can't wait to attend my next game. That was that was amazing. Um, I also attended uh the co-ed uh Wayne Valley relays. Um, that was great seeing um male athletes and feel female athletes in the area of track and field um compete together. Um, they did an amazing job. And I'm proud to say that I was asked to speak this year at the New Jersey uh school administrators association uh conference in Atlantic City where uh Daisy was with me and we presented on the use of canines in school communities. And it was a really sad but tragic turnaround from that. Right from that presentation, I
024was contacted by uh school leaders from Brick and they had a real trans uh Brick Township had a tragedy where um a student uh middle school student was run over um actually was I think it was a freshman was run run over by a junior racing to get to school on time. Um, so obviously tragic for all families involved and they were looking for u uh canines to help and you know while we weren't available I was able to put them in the right direction and they've had two days of grief counseling with the dogs there. Um but on posit positive note here at home uh you know as we get wind down and start looking at the conclusion of the 20 uh 2526 school year uh there's always transition there's always change as people
025retire or uh move on to greater new positions. Um, we've been looking at an HR leadership position. Uh, we've had interviews all week with some really top top-notch candidates. Um, we have some principal positions that are open and we have over 100 applicants for these positions which is a great thing because people see the stability here in Wayne. They see it as a great opportunity to further their career and bring education to young people. Uh, so something we're very proud of and we look forward to bringing those names to you in a future meeting. Thank you. That concludes the superintendent's report. Thank you. We'll have our student rep reports. Zach, you want to go first? Y. >> Okay. First, we're going to do the uh donations from some of the donors in Wayne. First, from
026the Kazora family and Industrial Marine Corps, to Randall Carter Elementary, they donated um $1,000. So, thank you to them. and Tracy Campana donated sensory toys, $50 worth of sensory toys to the PNIS Early Childhood Center. And the Anthony Wayne PTO donated $2,75 for the cost of buses for sixth graders, 7th graders, and eighth grade field trips to the Anthony Wayne Middle School. Also, we would like to thank Lincoln Technical Institute for their $1,000 donation of automotive electrical training boards to Wayne Valley and Wayne Hills High School. We'd also like to thank Vinnie's Pizzerama for their $200 donation to the class of 2028 for Wayne Valley High School. And finally, our thank you to our donor of Popcorn Board for their $500 donation to the child development class at Wayne Valley High School. >> Okay, now
027for the good news from Wayne Hills. So, Wayne Hills just celebrated teacher appreciation week, which was planned and organized by the Executive Student Council. And on Monday, teachers received room service featuring their favorite snack, drink, and a chocolate bar. On Tuesday, postcards were given to each teacher with messages from five different students to showcase their appreciation. And the PTO generously catered lunch and a popcorn bar and concession stand. The entire staff was treated to a coffee cart on Wednesday and the Leo Club dropped off letters and goodies for teachers to enjoy. Thursday featured the Wheel of Wonder where every staff member spun the wheel to win a prize and some even won a larger prize, too. All prizes were donated by generous local businesses and the foods class and LLD program also made pretzels, fried
028Oreos, crumb cake, and blondies to treat the staff. We ended the week with our annual annual breakfast for the for all of the staff members which was co-sponsored by the National Honor Society and a fun baby picture guessing game in partnership with Mr. Ruick. It was a wonderful week where all teachers and staff were celebrated for the impact they make on Wayne Hills each day. Wayne Hills photography had 14 images recognized by Rowan University and their Wayne Hills High School photography contest. Their images will be printed and published in the university's public publication and selected and select images will be on display in Rowan's art gallery. The head of Rowan's program went on to say in in in reviewing thousands of entries, the work submitted by students from Wayne Hills High School stood out immediately
029for its artistic merit, technical strength, and conceptual depth. Congratulations to the girls and boys track teams for their performances at the North One Group Three State Sectional Championships this past week. The following student athletes placed top six in their events and will be competing in the group three state championships at the end of the month. Kaja Lynch won the girls high jump and tied the school record with a height of 5t and 2 in. Ashley White won second in javelin. Tanner Newman won second in the 400 meter dash. Sophia Etchei um had fourth place in the triple jump and fourth place in the long jump. Courtney Smalls placed fifth in the 400 meter hurdles and fifth in the 400 meter dash. Um Sabrino Wnooki placed sixth in the 400 meter hurdle and fifth in the
030high jump. Lily Martinelli placed six in the 400 meter dash. And our our boys 4 by 800 meter team of Michael Cantilli, Perneil Kumar, Ryan Lanfrank, and Tyler DeMarco reset the school record and placed fifth. And our girls 4x400 team of Lily Martinelli, Grace Storo, Sabrina Wiznooki, and Courtney Smalls placed second. That's all the good news from Wayne Hills. >> Okay, May has been an exciting and meaningful month at Wayne Valley so far. One of the highlights of our month was our annual Relay for Life event held on May 2nd. Students, staff, and community came together to raise over $30,000 in total for cancer research and patient support. The event featured food trucks, activities including a dunk tank and spikeball tournament and concluded with a beautiful luminaria ceremony honoring those affected by cancer. We are
031also honored to have our board of education president Don Pavac speak at the event. In student achievement news, senior Michael Deutsch received the 2026 youth of the year award from the Boys and Girls Club of Northwest New Jersey. Michael was recognized for his reliability, adaptability, and leadership. He hopes to pursue a career in education in the future and become a teacher. Congratulations to Michael on this outstanding achievement. The Wayne Valley photography department earned national recognition this month, receiving seven national awards along with $1,000 in cash prizes and photography equipment. Riley Fedor earned both a first place award and an honorable mention. Ellif and Kinchi received two first place awards and two additional honorable mentions as well. Congratulations to all of our talented student photographers on their impressive achievements. Also, teacher Kate Pritchard earned a third
032place award for herself. The auto program hosted its 20th annual car show on Wednesday, May 20th. The event brought together student, staff, and community members to celebrate the success and growth of the automotive program over the past two decades. In athletics, Wayne boys Wayne Valley boys lacrosse, volleyball, tennis baseball, and girls flag football all qualified for the state tourn tournament. Also, boys baseball won a share of big North Conference Independence Division title. Congratulations to these teams on a successful season and best of luck as they continue in the postseason competition. Our April athlete of the month was also junior softball captain Annie Martin for her leadership and softball skills. We're so proud of all our athletes and all our students. That's all for Wayne Valley. >> Thank you both. >> Any revisions to the agenda?
033>> There are no revisions. >> Thank you. At this this portion of the meeting is open to citizens for comments on agenda items only. Residents are asked to state their name, address, and subject matter. Comments may be limited to three minutes per person. Members of the public are discouraged from speaking negatively about an employee or a student. The board bears no responsibility for discourages. The board bears no responsibility for comments made by the public. Comments regarding employees or students cannot be legally responded to by the board. Other comments may be respond to tonight or at a subsequent meeting under old business. Do I have a mover? Mrs. Landry, Mr. Agnes, anyone from the public wishing to address an agenda item? See no one move to close in favor. >> Mr. Paul, we have a couple
034of committees that met tonight. Mr. Pakus, thank you. Tonight, the facilities and transportation committee met. Um, I was joined by Mr. Pavlac, Mr. Agnes, administrators, Mrs. DeMarco, Mrs. Tibbitz, Mr. Skitzky, and Mr. Giri. Uh, we didn't have any uh agenda items or potential agenda items tonight. Uh, for facilities, we went over the meeting minutes for April 23rd. Uh, once again, for the second meeting in a row, we discussed the use of the facilities addendum, uh, 7510, use of facilities. Uh we discussed the progress at PNNIS for the interior alterations and the elevator lobby edition. So drop ceilings are going up. Um all the communication wiring is going in. Um but we're still working on the elevator shaft. The uh Wayne Hills High School domestic hot water replacement is uh finished. They just need to uh
035close up the documents. Uh but it's up and operational. There's going to be uh PA system upgrades for Lafayette and Wayne Hills High School. They're designed and ready to go um to be put in this summer. Uh we went through department operations um with updates and other topics. Um uh we're going to get new kitchen equipment for Pines Lake, Randall Carter, Ryerson, Anthony Wayne, George Washington, and Skyler Kofax. All this is purchased with funds from the department of argu a agriculture. Uh we also have uh funds from the department of agriculture to um update the kitchen and cafe areas um and put hydration uh hydration station installations there where it's close enough to a kitchen. We uh for the second meeting in a row we also discussed the Skylar Koffax uh middle school odor. Um
036it if you recall it was coming out of room 122. There was some rotting wood and you know some formerly flooded um rooms there. Um so uh we're going to go through the whole building and um and take care of that situation. Uh we went through uh the paving updates. So we're trying to you know get areas that are with the most traffic first um due to the limited funds that we have. Um so be filling up potholes this summer. We um uh then discussed transportation items. Uh tonight's agenda included uh the approval to dispose of obsolute obsolete and surplus uh equipment. So unfortunately the town has had to sideline 10 buses where we had to retire dispose of because they're rotting. Um, you know, there's rust and and rotting from from the bottom. Um,
037as as has been previously mentioned, we went through the the meeting minutes of uh April 23rd. Uh, we are um receiving delivery of two new small vans that we ordered last year. So, those are coming in, but we're still waiting on um uh 24 254 size ones. Um, so it's still taking a while. There's still uh supply chain issues out there. Uh and buses are more expensive. Um you know, the long buses are we were just talking about, you know, how much uh new buses are cost and they're like $185,000 to $200,000 plus. So, um we also discussed, you know, do we go with propane versus diesel? Um you know, there's there's all these issues that we have to to think about. So, um we discussed the summer routes um and route picking that'll be
038done by June 17th. Um we discussed about the special ed um uh routes as well. Uh driver certification. We had a sec there was a second meeting on the 9th um uh to be in compliance with the new rules and regulations even though um you know the ones that they held in September don't count. Uh we're gonna auction off the the 10 buses um to get some money back. Um and um we discussed the the the bus the the the band bus uh which you know should be a retired bus by now. Uh the valley the Wayne Valley band bus is uh needs to be replaced. Um we also talked about um some um well uh this upcoming week there's an Islamic holiday Eid alada um May 26 27 28 so um you know we
039we may have an issue uh with the bus drivers um uh also we discussed how the Wayne Valley High School parking lot during dismissal is a little bit crazy And there was a car accident today there. Uh it's probably the the fourth car accident that was there. Um it a uh a driver hit one of our buses and their bumper was taken off. And we also talked about the uh possibility of a bus lottery. Um however, every seat seems to be assigned. So I'm not sure if that's that's going to happen. So thank you. That's my report. Mr. Mr. Fab. >> Uh the communications committee met tonight. It was myself, Mr. Haymon, and Mr. Citadino. Uh we reviewed the recent media coverage of the district. Um and we also reviewed uh surveys that will be
040going out to students, their families, and staff to get a sense of the climate at our district. Thank you. Um this past weekend I um was part of the New Jersey school board's uh delegate assembly down in um West Windsor. Um there were two this is where school boards can put forth resolutions to the New Jersey School Boards Association to get them to advocate for. Um the CC caucus board of education submitted a resolution to school boards to the delegate to the delegate assembly. Uh the resolution addresses the lack of local representation, transparency, and fiscal predictability with county vocational schools and ask for a seat at the table to review costs, um potential projects that are coming up for the district. This way there's some representation for the sending districts uh who contribute tuition. For
041every student that goes to Pay County Tech, the district has to pay a tuition for that student. A lot of people don't realize that. The other resolution that passed is the pilot program. That's payment in lie of taxes. um towns and cities can go out and make deals with developers and say, "Okay, we're going to set up here's how much you're going to pay us instead of paying the normal tax rate." And they can set that up. Uh what this resolution does, it asks that um the delegated funds also be included for the school district to offset any uh students that will be coming out of those project uh those pro the program um and any potential increases in enrollment which uh does not happen now. Okay. Do I have a mover for the agenda?
042Mr. Alquin, Mr. Agnes, any comments? See none. Roll call, please. >> Mr. >> Yes. >> Mr. Haymon, >> yes. >> Mrs. Lamandry, >> yes. >> Mr. Paul, >> yes. >> Mr. Pacos, >> yes. >> Mr. Agnes, >> yes. >> Mr. Eloquin, >> yes. >> And Mr. Pavlac, >> yes. >> Motion carries. We have some retirements. I'll start to my left. >> I'm first today. >> You're first. >> I'll be reading on behalf of Linda Kisler. Uh Miss Kler and family moved from Brooklyn, New York to Hicksville, New York, where Linda spent many of her formative years, not just as as a child, but as an adult, who moved away from home and then returned home quite a few times. Linda has always been proud that she and the musical artist Billy Joel grew up in
043Hicksville, although their paths never crossed. Before moving to New Jersey, Linda successfully completed a master of science and education with a specialization in reading with distinction in May 1989 from Hofster University. Miss Kler moved to New Jersey. Before joining the public school system, Miss Ker held a number of adjunct faculty positions at Sussex County Community College and Ramapo University. She taught a variety of courses from basic skills reading to college English one as well as the teaching of reading in the special education classroom. Miss Kler is most proud of her time as the acting summer reading coordinator for the Ramapo University's summer educational opportunity fund program. It was during this position that she not only taught classes in reading but held an administrative role requiring the hiring of adjuncts, tutors, and the overall responsibilities that
044involve students and staff. In 1999, there was a strong drive for reading specialists throughout New Jersey. Miss Kitler was initially hired as a sixth grade reading teacher at Skyler Kfax Middle School. She then transferred to Anthony Wayne Middle School during its inaugural year as a sixth grade reading teacher. The curriculum changed and English and reading teachers became ELA teachers in an 80-minute block. Miss Kler transitioned at Anthony Wayne Middle School from sixth grade ELA to 7th grade ELA, which is her current position. At the same time, Miss Kler has been an adjunct faculty member at William Patterson University. Miss Kler believes that teachers of any grade are to be respected, but middle school teachers have to have a special appreciation for children in sixth, seventh, and eighth grade. What has been most important to Miss
045Kler is her drive to connect with her students and to demonstrate to her students that what we learn in ELA is not contained to our 80 minutes worth of time together. What we learn in ELA can be extended to their real world experiences and that story is the heart of our origins who we are. She adamantly encourages her students to listen to the stories that others want to share with them and to know that we all have stories. So never hesitate to share theirs. Miss Kler and her eloquent emails will certainly uh will truly be missed at Anthony Wayne. She has been such an integral part of the community since its inception. We wish her well on her next journey and know that she will find uh fill her I'm sorry. She will fill her
046time with her love of reading and writing. Mishka, her dog, will be elated that they finally get to go on extended walks and he will thoroughly enjoy that she's home with him on a daily basis. Congratulations on an outstanding career and know that you always have a special place in the hearts of your Anthony Wayne family. >> Thank you, Mr. Mr. Agnes. >> I'll be reading for Miss Kathy Tarico. After 20 years of dedicated service as a par profofessional with the Wayne Township Board of Education, we proudly celebrate the extraordinary impact of Kathy Tarico and the countless lives she has touched throughout her career. For 15 years at Ryerson and five years at Lafayette, Kathy has been a constant source of compassion, positivity, and unwavering support for students, staff, and families. Her kindness, patience, and
047dedication have made her a trusted and beloved presence in every school community fortunate enough to work alongside her. At Ryerson, Kathy has gone above and beyond each day to support students and staff in any way needed. As a par professional, she has played an essential role in helping students grow academically, socially, and emotionally. Always ensuring they felt safe, valued, and supported. She brings warmth and encouragement and calm, caring presence to every interaction, and her ability to connect with children and families has made a lasting difference in so many lives. Kathy's dedication to children extends far beyond the school day. In addition to all she has done within Wayne Township, she has devoted herself to supporting children as the director of Camp Sunshine and Camp Snowflake in Ridgewood. Through these programs, Kathy has created joyful, inclusive,
048and meaningful experiences for countless children and families, further reflecting her lifelong passion for helping every child feel accepted, supported, and successful. Throughout her career, Kathy has been incredible teammate and a caring friend, a true advocate for children. She has always been willing to lend a helping hand, offer support, and do whatever is needed for the good of the students and colleagues alike. Her impact on both Ryerson and Lafayette as well as the uh broader community through her camp leadership will continue to be felt for many years to come. While her retirement is so welld deserved, Cathy's presence will be deeply missed. We are incredibly grateful for her 20 years of service, dedication, and heart. We wish her endless happiness, health, and joy in her next chapter. >> Kim Mattisuch. After many years of dedicated service,
049we would like to congratulate Kim Mattisuch on her upcoming retirement. Kim is a truly special power professional whose kindness, patience, and support have made a lasting impact on the students and staff of our school community. Throughout her time at the elementary level, she consistently created a welcoming and supportive environment where children felt cared for, encouraged, and understood. Her calm presence, positive attitude, and a willingness to help wherever needed made her an invaluable part of the school family. Beyond the daily responsibilities of the classroom, she built a meaningful relationship with students and colleagues alike, always putting children first and helping them grow with confidence. Her compassion, flexibility, and commitment to helping every child succeed will be remembered by all who had the privilege of working alongside her. While she will be greatly missed, we are excited
050for her as she begins this well- earned next chapter filled with relaxation, joy, and new adventures. We thank her for the countless ways she made our school a better place and wish her all the best in her retirement. >> Mrs. Landry. >> Um, I am reading about Karen Messerola. For nearly four decades, Karen Messerola has dedicated her life to education, compassion, and the belief that every student deserves someone who sees their potential. From her very first day substituting at Park Ridge High School in 1986 and stepping in to help while her mom recovered from surgery, Karen began what would become an extraordinary career defined by flexibility, resilience, and heart. Over the years, Karen taught every grade level imaginable from pre kindergarten through high school seniors. Her journey brought her from Emerson Junior Senior High School,
051where she taught English and journalism and coached boys tennis to Charles Day. Wolf Middle School in Old Tapan, where she spent many years inspiring students through English and reading instruction. When life called her to focus on family after her oldest son's autism diagnosis, Karen answered with the same love and devotion she always brought to teaching. Eventually, she returned to education, continuing to make a difference in special education at Dogwood High Dogwood Hill Elementary School in Oakland and later at Skyler Kfax Middle School, where for more than a decade she supported students across English, science, and social studies classrooms. Karen's career has never been defined simply by subjects taught or years served. It has been defined by patience, kindness, adaptability, humor, and unwavering dedication to students of all abilities and backgrounds. Being tenured in three separate
052school districts speaks not only of her skill as an educator, but to the respect and admiration she learn she earned everywhere she went. Now, after years of early mornings, lesson plans, meetings, grades, and caring deeply for generations of students, Karen begins a well-earned new chapter. Retirement for her will be filled with boating, skiing, snowshoeing, hiking with her dog, relaxing poolside, learning Japanese and French, taking drum lessons, mastering ma jang, enjoying time with friends, and finally sleeping past 5:00 a.m. Karen, your impact reaches far beyond the walls of any classroom. The students you encouraged, the colleagues you supported, and the families you helped will carry your influence for years to come. Congratulations on your retirement. May this new adventure bring you some the same joy, fulfillment, and inspiration that you gave so generously to others throughout
053your remarkable career. >> Mr. Pakus, >> Anna Maria Ruth. After 11 years as a valued member of the Ryerson family, we proudly celebrate the retirement of Anna Maria Ruth and the incredible impact she has had on our students, staff, and community. Throughout her time at Ryerson, Anna Maria served first as a prior professional before becoming both a second grade and kindergarten teacher, bringing dedication, warmth, and an unwavering love for children to every role she held. Anna Maria is truly the epitome of what a kindergarten teacher should be. She has a remarkable gift for creating a classroom filled with joy, kindness, patience, and wonder where every child feels safe, loved, and excited to learn. Her nurturing nature and gentle guidance helped countless young learners build confidence, independence, and a love for school from their very first
054experiences in the classroom. She understood the importance of the little moments, the hugs, encouragement, celebrations, and reassurance. And those moments made a lifelong impact on her students f and families. Before joining Ryerson, Anna Maria dedicated herself to education as a teacher in Philadelphia and as a teachers assistant at IHM. Experiences that helped shape the compassionate and talented educator we have all come to know and admire. Her years of experience combined with her natural ability to connect with children made her an extraordinary presence in our school community. Throughout her career, Anna Maria has been a supportive colleague, a caring mentor, and a positive influence on everyone around her. She consistently went above and beyond for her students and was deeply committed to helping each child feel successful, valued, and loved. Her classroom was always a place
055filled with warmth, laughter, creativity, and learning. While her retirement is incredibly welldeserved, Anna Maria's presence will be deeply missed at Ryerson. The love and care she poured into her students and our school community over the past 11 years will leave a lasting legacy for years to come. We are so grateful for her dedication and wish her endless happiness, health, and joy in this next chapter. >> Thank you. Uh, finally I have Sue Kaplan. After 35 years of teaching, where she has spent the last 26 years shaping the young minds of her students in the Wayne Township, Sue Kaplan leaves behind a legacy that will be felt for generations. As a fifth grade teacher at James Fallon, Mrs. Kaplan has dedicated her professional career to the social, emotional, and academic development and well-being of her students.
056She brought consistency, compassion, and high expectations into the classroom each day, nurturing confidence, curiosity, and kindness in every child. She exemplifies the professionalism that every teacher aspires to have as an educator. Known for her patience, creativity, and unwavering support, Mrs. Kaplan created a classroom where students felt safe to take risks and grow. While colleagues admired her generosity and her expertise, her impact extends far beyond the classroom, living on in the countless students and community members she has influenced. She will be forever a vital member of the James Fallon family. And while she will be deeply missed, we wish her a joyful and well-deserved retirement filled with happiness and relaxation. Just on a personal note, both my daughters had Mrs. Kaplan as a fifth grade teacher. And I can tell you everything we talked about here
057about generosity, about nurturing is Sue Kaplan. And that is a credit to her and what she gave to each and every student she had. At this point, we're going to open to the meeting uh to the public for general comments. This portion of the meetings is is open to citizens for comments on any topic. Residents are asked to state their names, address, and subject matter. Comments may be limited to five minutes per person. Members of the public are discouraged from speaking negatively about an employee or student. The board bears no responsibility for comments made by the public. Comments regarding employees or students cannot be legally responded to by the board. Other comments may be responded to tonight or at a subsequent meeting under all business. Do I have a mover? >> Move. >> Mr. Pacos,
058Mr. Agnes. Anyone from the public wishing to speak? Thank you. Hello, my name is Pernel Kumar and I currently reside in 11 Ganet Court. I have been recently elected as the Wayne Hills Hosa chapter co-president for the 202627 school year. Pursuing a career in healthcare is arguably one of the most difficult paths for a high school student to pursue. And HOSA is an invaluable club that gives students exposure to the fields of healthcare with volunteer opportunities, mentor talks, conferences, and so much more. Competitions are at the forefront of what it means to be a member of HOSA. But the club is so much more than simply that. It serves as a way for high school students to connect and speak with other like-minded individuals on the same path as them. HOSA also solidifies students interests
059and ensures that the field of medicine is really what they want to pursue and the club has already been extremely successful. In only its first year as a club, the Wayne Hills chapter pulled in more than 50 members, had an international competitor, had numerous state and regional awards, and had multiple guest speakers with healthcare professions. My personal experiences with HOSA when I was a freshman have also been extremely pos positive as a welcoming club that allowed me to solidify my passions in the field of healthcare providing me with plenty of opportunities to make connections. We have recently acquired funding for the club to offer a paid position for the adviser. However, despite our best efforts, HOSA has remained inactive for the entire year. I am very confident that the Wayne Board of Education will always
060do the best for the high school's student body. And I now turn the mic over to Nia, my co-president, to further discuss the challenges our club faces and acquiring an adviser, our school board, and solutions in which we plan to address these challenges with your help. HOSA truly means a great deal to the current members and is a great opportunity for future members to be a part of as well. Thank you for listening and we look forward to your support. >> Thank you. Good evening. My name is Nia Fernandez and I reside at Three-Wheeler Road and I am co-president elect of the Wayne Hills HOSA chapter for the upcoming school year. As Pneal explained, HOSA has had a significant impact on Wayne Hill students even in its first year as an active chapter. The board
061of education has already demonstrated its support for these opportunities by strongly supporting funding for a paid officer position, a paid adviser position, and we are extremely grateful for that support. Yet, despite these efforts, our chapter has remained inactive as we have been unable to secure a new adviser. Throughout this past year, the former presidents and I have contacted numerous teachers who initially expressed sincere interest in taking on this role. However, after further discussion with the school administration, they returned discouraged and ultimately declined. As student leaders, this continuous setback has placed us in a very difficult position. We are passionate about reviving HOSA at Wayne Hills, but without an adviser, we are unable to do so. That is why we are proposing the creation of a joint HOSA chapter between Wayne Hills and Wayne Valley High
062School. We believe that this is a practical and effective solution that would allow Hill students to regain access to the opportunities that Valley students currently have via their active chapter. Joint extracurriculars are not new to Wayne. Activities such as FPLA and ice hockey have operated efficiently with this approach. A combined HOSA chapter would similarly represent Wayne as a whole, uniting students across the district who share interests in healthcare, science, leadership, and community service. In practice, this proposal would require relatively limited adjustments, primarily providing Hill students with access to the payment portal as well as transportation for conferences. Wayne Hills parents support the district's educational programs through their taxes under the impression that their children will have equal access to the career development opportunities that are already available to students at Wayne Valley. The students of
063Wayne Hills deserve nothing less. This is an organization that offers unique opportunities, fostering long-term success for our future healthcare professionals, such as the students behind me. We ask for your support in creating a solution that will benefit the students of Wayne Hills for years to come. Thank you so much for your time, consideration, and continued support of our students. >> Thank you. >> Anyone else from the public wishing to speak? Seeing no one and move to close. >> Mr. Favor, Mr. Paul. Any old business? Any new business? Board member comments. Mr. Pas, I just wanted to um thank everyone for coming tonight and thank you to our student representatives. Good luck. All the best. I know we we talked about it. Uh our our president spoke on our behalf but just felt like saying it
064myself. Um thank you to to the HOSA group here. Um you know we like we we always hear you know issues and problems but you know what I've encouraged people to do is come here tell us the problem and give us a solution. So I thank you for for bringing that suggestion. Um, I mean, if I think we're all on board with if there's something at Wayne Valley High School, there should be something at Wayne Hills High School and vice versa. So, I think that sounds like a great solution that I I'd be supportive of uh combining the the groups. >> Mr. Mandry, >> I too just want to say thank you, Zach and Caitlyn. I wish you guys all the best. You're remarkable and the way you spoke tonight and answered those questions off
065the cuff. Amazing. so mature and just I love that. Thank you so much. That was so encouraging for us up here. And also to the Hula Club. Definitely. I'm a healthc care professional and there is a huge need. There is camaraderie. There is um all different kinds of things you could combining the two high schools. We'll see what happens. The administration is aware now. So, and so are we as a board. So, um I'm looking forward to a little bit of a further discussion about that. Also, as we enter into Memorial Day weekend, I would be um aiss not to mention this this holiday and the importance of it. So, while we're preparing to celebrate at backyard barbecues, maybe at the beach, whatever it is, with your friends and your family, I encourage you guys
066just to take a a moment to remember how we got to where we are and the sacrifices that were made and remember the red, white, and blue. Um, I don't know. I grew up in a very patriotic family and it was always like, you know, take a moment and just think and remember. So, I encourage everybody to do that. And as a mom, I encourage my children to do the same thing. And we remember the sacrifices of the people who aren't with us anymore, who maybe died in battle on the battlefield or whatever. And we remember the people who are currently serving in foreign nations to keep us safe here in America. So, I'm grateful for that sacrifice and I thank you all for being here tonight. >> Mr. Favor, >> Zach, Caitlyn, thank you
067very much. It's been great having you. Best of luck to you guys. Um, I'm interested in the host thing. I have selfish reasons. I'm getting old and I need more doctors. So, we got to make sure that, you know, we get some good people in Wayne because, you know, I could feel the aches and pains right now. So, if we could look into that further, I'd appreciate it. Um, and you know, I didn't even think about the Memorial Day thing, but that's actually a really great point. I mean, >> it's everything that we have here is because of everything that's come before us. So, it's really something when you stop and think about it. As much as things there's differences and stuff, we still live in the best country in the world and we have
068access to things that many other people don't. So, >> something to think about. the education that you guys have >> and healthare too. >> Thank you. >> Yeah, I'll start with Memorial Day myself. I I asked my son about it and uh he assured me that it was covered in school. As a matter of fact, he even knew about the name change back in the 70s which I forgot about. So, they're doing a good job there. uh to Zach and Caitlyn. Uh great job giving us reports every month and everything. Uh Zach, did you tell did you say you're going for finance? >> Okay, I'm going to give you your first finance lesson. You ready? Dave, no offense. You're doing a great job, but you mentioned going after his job and ours. Take his. He
069gets paid a little more. All right. And uh to Caitlyn, uh you're doing engineering. I know. Good luck to you. Uh maybe you'll be uh our engineer. We do additions on the schools one day. And uh I see our board attorney give me a stink eye. I don't know if I could say that or not, but talk to Mr. DeMarco about the the the uh bidding rules and everything. >> Proposal. >> There you go. Do your proposal. And uh to the students from HOSA, uh I was uh in Wayne Hosea myself, 16 years old, when I uh joined the first aid squad. So, I'm right there with you guys. Uh I seem to remember that we have done something with the HOSA club, you know, from the first aid squad. So, I'll be looking out
070for you guys for sure. >> Anyone else? Well, I'll finish up. Um, Caitlyn Zap, thank you again for everything. And Caitlyn, just the relay for life, you and your leadership team did a phenomenal job and it was a pleasure to be there to share my story about cancer with them and everybody there. Um, the HOSA club, guys, anything we can do for you, we will do. All right, we'll work on it. Uh, we have our union representatives here from the teachers union. I'm sure they'll help us out as well. Uh but the administration knows about it now and um we we'll stay on on top of this. I promise you. Um this is our Memorial Day weekend coming up and it's the unofficial beginning of summer and all those things, the barbecues and everything else.
071Well, weatherwise, not sure if that's going to happen, but it's a reminder about this country and about being free. It was earned and protected by the men and women of our armed forces who today are in harm's way and still they defend our com our country. We honor them, those who never came home. I know when we used to have the eighth grade trip, we used to go to Arlington Cemetery and it just sends chills through you walking through the fields and fields of limestone gravestones and the changing at the tomb uh the changing of the guard at the tomb of the unknown soldier. their sacrifices. They represent the very best of our nation, the courage in the face of danger, the commitment to times of uncertainty, and the unwavering devotion to the ideals of
072liberty and democracy. So what I say to you, when you see a military veteran today, this weekend, anytime, just say thank you. Thank you for your service. Thank you for what you did because we can never repay you the debt that we owe. And as and as long as we're here, we need to remember the price of freedom always carries a heavy price. And we want to carry those memories forward and never forget. God bless our fallen heroes, their families, our veterans, and our service people today. May God's light shine on them, and may they always be safe in what they do. I'll take a motion to adjourn. Mrs. Landry, Mr. Agnes. Thank you everyone.