001Sorry. >> I'd like to call the May 20th board of education meeting open. We could have a moment of silence. Flat salute. I aliance 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. In accordance with the provisions of the Open Public Meetings Act, public notice of this meeting has been sent to board members, all district schools, the Herald News, the suburban trends, the record, the messenger, West Milford town hall, the county superintendent's office, the board attorney, cable vision of Warwick and West Milford TV77 and posted in the administrative building. Copies of the board meeting calendar resolution were provided to all local media, town hall, township, library, and all district schools. Roll call, please. Mr. Schultz. >>
002Mr. Stovich, >> here. >> Mrs. Dwire, >> here. >> Mr. Garino, >> Mrs. Jurgensson, >> here. >> Mr. Lippy, >> here. >> Mrs. Markwart, >> here. >> Mrs. Rano >> here. >> Mrs. Van Dyk >> here. >> Mrs. Lockwood >> here. >> Thank you. The superintendent report. Dr. Kitchen. >> Yes. So, uh, first thing I want to get to is our, uh, HIB grades for the 23 24 school year. So, um, if you remember, these do get presented to you back in the fall, but that's the self assessment. Then that gets submitted to the state for the certified scores. Uh, nothing has changed from them, but you can view it in your executive content there, and it will be posted on the website. Um, so our overall district score is 75. that is out of
003a possible 78. Um, and you can look at the individual school scores there. Uh, excuse me. Yeah, max score is 78. So, we have uh um let's see, 74 at Apua, 77 at Mccapin. Uh, Maple Road is a 76, Marshall Hill is a 75. Uh, PK is a 74. UGL is a 75. and the high school is a 73. So again, a a total district score of 75 out of a possible 78 on our on our HIV scores, which is pretty good. Um, you can look a little more detailed on what the breakdown uh means there. It's just about making sure we got appropriate programs in order, staff trainings, uh, and we're following procedures appropriately. So, um, and we do a pretty good job with all of those things. And we got a couple more
004we'll be discussing in exec tonight. So, that's where we're at with that. Um, any questions on any of that? Again, we kind of did go through this in the fall. This is just a certification of those scores. Um, and then the other thing I wanted to do is just go through a few um recognitions. A couple of these things were approved uh last month, but I do think it's important that we now recognize them now since they are official. Some uh donations here. So, uh AF had a significant donation for assist of technology at PK. Uh want to thank them for that. That was through uh one of their HF grants. uh Maple Road PTA uh clear touch panels and picnic tables uh which I know are really uh helpful in our Maple Road community.
005So, thank you to them. Um I also want to mention um uh the I don't I hope I don't pronounce the name wrong. Uh the Beckyers family >> Beakers family uh for donating uh money for the ski team uniforms. So, our ski team needed uh needed new uniforms and uh they stepped up and and donated them. So, that's really great. And then one we've been talking about, but uh I I think it's it's worth noting again. So our UGL playground, um obviously our UGL PTA is the primary driver behind that, but also the Rotary Club and a big donation from the Babula family. So uh that's really exciting. It's it's awesome that they're getting a big new feature on that playground there. And I think we mentioned um in our in one of our uh
006committee reports last month, but the the date on that is Jul is in July. So, uh, for the start of the new school year, we'll have a whole new playground up there, which is really exciting. So, uh, that's all I have, but I will turn things over to our student representative, Megan Sidner. >> Good evening. Here is the debrief on all things West Milford from late April to now. West Milford High School students spanning all grades took their advanced placement or AP exams from Monday, May 6th and to Friday, May 17th. The West Milford High School guidance department worked really hard to ensure that they ran smoothly for each three-hour test twice per day. Thank you AP class teachers for preparing students for their tests. Congratulations to students and staff alike for their hard work.
007Scores will be released early July and are accessible through your college board accounts. For now though, give yourself a pat on the back and enjoy your lack of finals in all of those classes. On May 8th, West Milford High School proudly and honorably inducted the newest members of the National Honor Society. Congratulations to all new inductees, including the new board. President Brena Traverso, Vice President Selma, historian Elizabeth Easter, Treasurer Kevin Dockra, and SEC Secretary Althia Edelstein. You have worked so hard, and this is an acknowledgement of your excellent character and dedication to your craft. Continue to shine bright and honor the National Honor Society's four pillars. West Milford High School freshman and juniors have been representing the West Milford school districts by giving their all in the NJSLA testing that began on Thursday, May 15th,
008and will end tomorrow, Wednesday the 21st. The NJSLA is a statemandated assessment which provides the district with valuable information regarding student learning and will advise curriculum revisions and support programs. Juniors took the science NJSLA on Thursday, May 15th and Friday, May 16th. Freshmen took the English NJSLA on Thursday, May 15th and Friday, May 16th. And freshmen also took the math NJSLA today and will take their final part tomorrow. Do your best and keep up the great work. During these days, we had and will continue to have a very unique schedule in which the first period starts at 9:35 a.m. So, very nice sleep in. Now, for the sports news, track has had an incredible season. On Friday, May 16th, and Saturday, May 17th, the outdoor track team participated in the New Jersey State Interscolastic Athletic
009Association North Jersey Section 1 Group 2 Championships at Vernon Township High School. Notable efforts during this are Noah Dioette earning a gold medal in the 400 meter dash, Payton Loenstein earning second in the javelin and third in the shot put, Kira Clinton earning fifth, and Amanda Harvey earning seventh in the 1,600 meter run. Abigail Hires earning seventh in the pole vault. Sarah Folly earning 10th in the 400 meter dash. Lorenzo Andrade earning second in the 400 meter hurdles and sixth in the 200 meter dash. Julian Pierre earning fourth in the high jump. Zachary McDow earning 10th in the 400 meter hurdles. Tyler Meyer earning sixth in the high jump. Ninth in the long jump and ninth in the triple jump. And Aiden Dean earning seventh in javelin. Congratulations everyone on all of your accomplishments. Keep
010up the incredible work. Baseball. Baseball has barreled through the competition. And on Saturday, May 17th, the fifth seated Highlanders lost 013 in five innings to top- seated Depal in the semi-final round of the P County tournament in Wayne. They fought very hard in each inning and played incredibly well throughout the season. We are so proud of your efforts, boys. Softball. The softball team has been working very hard and currently has a record of 511. They just won against Lakeland at home on Thursday, May 15th. This has broken their sevengame losing streak. Please use this momentum to pick up more victories. You got this. Go softball. Boys lacrosse. Boys lacrosse has been scoring and saving highly in their games with junior goalie Tyler Aken Freo matching his career-high 23 saves in their most recent game against
011Tennifly on May 12th, helping push towards a victory. This most recent victory results in the Highlanders having record of 810. Keep it up. Girls lacrosse. Girls lacrosse may have a current record of 114, but they have their final game scheduled against Puquanic at 4:30 p.m. on May 22nd. Please consider stopping by to cheer for our girls. They've been scoring very highly and practicing hard. We believe in you girls. Boys tennis. Boyce Tznas has fought hard and is on the path to continue to do so as they completed their 2025 season with a 7-9 record, a 4-6 record in the independence division of the Big North Conference, and made it into states. Their first match is against Montill today. Go boys tennis. We hope you are proud of today's performance. Boys golf. On May 1st, boys
012golf played sixth in the Big North Conference tournament at Pnness Valley Golf Course in Wayne. Mason Moore shot a team low 85 to contribute to the success. Great work, boys. Girls golf. On April 24th, girls golf placed 16th in the Big North Conference Championships at Valley Brook Golf Course in Riverdale. Bridget Nevin led the effort with a shot of 112. Great efforts, girls. And now for a brief look into the future. Tomorrow, May 21st, the West Milford High School will host the Governor's Educator of the Year breakfast and presentation. Congratulations to all teachers across New Jersey for being recognized for their incredible efforts that they put in each and every day. Please know that US students see and appreciate you immensely. West Milford High School War and Remembrance Day will be held on May 22nd
013from 7:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in the high school. This ceremony is to honor current service members and veterans. Additionally, there will be an opportunity for deceased service members and veterans to be recognized. For more information, please reach out to Mrs. Metaf or Miss Czecha. Later that day, the Science Honor Society will be inducting new members in the high school's lower media center. Congratulations to all members. We wish for your continued curiosity and passion in the world of science. Highlander Day will be held on May 24th at the backfield. There will be lots of fun games, face painting, temporary tattoos, and a variety of delicious foods. The school day will run on an early dismissal schedule from 7:13 a.m. to 12:19 p.m. And the event will start at 12:20 p.m. and run until 2:00 p.m.
014Make sure to bring money as it does cost. On May 28th, the English Honor Society will be inducting new members in the high school's auditorium. Congratulations on this accomplishment. We hope that you continue to analyze, create, and perform various works of literature. Prepare your paddles. On May 29th, starting at 5:00 PM, the National Honor Society will be holding a pickleball tournament in the high school gym. All signup proceeds will go to head custodian Damen Fitzpatrick in order to help his daughter fight cancer. Together, we can make a difference. So, please do consider playing or attending. If you have questions or wish to sign up, please email Megan Sidner, that's me, at megn.cidnps.net. On June 4th, West Milford High School's guidance department will be hosting a community scholarship night in the high school's auditorium starting at
0157 p.m. This evening is a celebration of our graduating seniors and the incredible generosity of local organizations, businesses, and families who sponsor these awards. As of May 15th, $97,500 in scholarships are scheduled to be given to chosen students. Seniors, please be sure to check your email to see if you have been invited to this incredible event. Thank you so much to the hard work of the guidance department for putting this together and to the willingness and kindness of the providing parties. The class of 2025 is so incredibly grateful. And lastly, seniors, this one is for you. The senior prom with the theme of mystery at midnight is to be held on June 5th. All prom bids and seating arrangements have been accounted for since last week, so all that is left is to dress up
016and have fun. Thank you very much for your time. I look forward to updating you next month. Please enjoy the rest of your evening. >> Thank you, Megan. >> Um, so Megan did touch on it, but I actually I do want to mention it's not on my report, but we are tomorrow hosting the county educator of the year breakfast. Couple details to that that I want to mention. So, this is a a breakfast that has not happened the past couple years. Um, you know, so it typically happens at a at an outside venue and it's just becoming uh too much of a cost issue. So it hadn't happened the past couple years and West Milford has also not participated in the nomination process for a few years now. So really exciting that we have uh
017so many amazing um so many amazing teachers being recognized and it's really exciting that we had the opportunity to uh to host it and and credit where it's due and and I I know I give this guy credit very often cuz he deserves it. Um I got a text message earlier in the year from Mr. Dan Novak saying, "Hey, this breakfast might not happen again. Do you think we could host it?" I said, "Yeah, I think we probably could." He goes, "I thought you were going to say that, so I already told him that we could." Um, and then, uh, you know, and then after that, you know, we sat down. We're having a conversation like, "Oh, maybe we can find somebody to sponsor it." So then within 24 hours, he had people fighting over
018who could sponsor the event. So, uh, we not only are we hosting, we got the entire event paid for. Um, and it's really something great to bring back. You know, it may be something we host again in the future. It may be something that now gets passed around to some other schools, but uh really looking forward to to an awesome event. So, we'll be here bright and early tomorrow making sure thing probably also, you know, late tonight going to check and make sure everything's set up properly. But, uh, but we're excited to host it. So, then again, thank you to Dan for uh, >> jump in a little bit. I just want to say thank you to everyone at the high school who and and and other schools and and central office staff who helped
019get us ready for what we're going to have tomorrow. Thank you for for mentioning it. You also had the most uh kind words I've ever heard about the NJSA. So, thank you. We need more of that. Um we uh we're expecting about 265 uh guests from around the county. um all the teachers of the year, their guests and superintendents from all of the districts as well as the um you know the county office, county executive superintendent, um the president of the Pay County Teachers Association, uh Sheriff Adamo, uh I'm not saying that correctly. Tell me tomorrow. Was it >> Adamo. All right. Why not tomorrow? >> Um so we have a we had a lot of guest speakers. Uh the high school did a great job. We are gonna um show off uh West Milford
020Public Schools. I know Mr. Glenn and our maintenance and custodian staff did a great job getting the uh getting the not only the school but the um complex ready. We're um have plenty of signage for for getting everyone uh parking. Our heroes and cool kids are going to be out there to escort and show everyone where to go to help them find registration, help them find the the you know proper entrance, those types of things. Uh we have our uh golf cart fleet pilot, you know, headed by Dr. Kitchen ready to help with uh mobility if uh if necessary. Um our art department is going to be uh displaying a lot of the work that we had at our at our arts festival. Uh we have um some background music being provided by our music
021department during the breakfast. Our bag pipes are going to lead our teachers of the year into the event and our chorus is going to sing the uh the national anthem and then the county is going to take it from there and honor all of our teachers. So uh a great opportunity to honor the things that we do really well in West Milford. So very very exciting. Thank you for thank you for bringing it up. >> I think I think we sometimes because we are such a different community than a lot of P County. I think it's really cool that we get a chance to highlight some of the things we cuz this is like look I haven't been in P County very long obviously but the um I've been to these breakfasts before. They don't
022look like this. This is something really unique and special. So I think it's really cool that we're going to showcase who we are because um you know people don't all every time we're participating in anything it's always down county down county down county. So to have something up here and to showcase what what an amazing place this is we're super excited. And uh just talking about our sponsor um we were fortunate to bump into um West Milford legend Hall of Famer Kevin Walker who is uh affiliated with one of the technology firms that we um you know do some purchasing from and he was able to get the um sponsored breakfast from MRA International. So their CEO is going to be on site tomorrow morning to you know to be there to honor all of
023our teachers as well. Brian and I happen to be bragging about the event at spring leadership last week and one of our reps overheard us talking about the event and they asked how can we get in on this. So we have next year's already uh already sponsored in advance. So uh really really good stuff. >> Sounds great. >> That's it for me. >> Thank you Dr. Kitchen and Mr. Novak. Now it's Oh, sorry. Now it's your turn again, Mr. Novak. assistant superintendence report. >> All right. I'm going to in a minute I'm going to introduce um Mr. Santoro and Mr. Glenn. They're going to help present um on our um the creation of our esports lab at Makipin and an overview of what esports is and and why it's meaningful to our schools and not
024just um not just an arcade or not just you know a place for for students to uh enjoy gaming together but it's that has some significant impact uh on our schools in the future of the students who participate in it. So, while the projector's warming up, I'm going to talk about the other item >> that coming up. >> All right. Also, the other other part I want to talk about. Last last week, we had a um we had a change in many years ago, we discussed having um curriculum based projects by grade level. And that's we're probably in the I guess fourth or fifth year of those of those grade level um trips where you know our kindergarten students will all go to a particular farm or our uh fifth grade will visit Ellis Island.
025Uh our second grade class has typically visited a place called Museum Village which um many people have you know has been near and dear to to many people's hearts over the years. Um there was concern from our uh second grade teachers that I guess the offerings that were there currently due to staff cuts and and budget weren't as um I guess weren't as full as they had had in the past. So I discussed this with second grade and we decided to send them all to a uh play at the Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown. So that trip went off went out last week. every second grader um participated and and you know they all went together in mass and um from the pictures and and everything that they they shared they had a had
026an absolute great time. Uh a lot of the feedback about um our students who you know maybe uh some second graders who this is their first opportunity to see a live performance and we're we're very excited to uh to participate in it. Um so that that's um you know leading to more discussions about the future of our um grade level curriculum based trips and you know probably a good time to revisit the um the locations that all of our grade levels are going and just get the input from our staff and our uh students for for how they want to. We're going to continue doing them. It's just um probably a good time to to refresh and take a look at our uh our options. >> Yeah. I just have a question. I know Fairview
027used to be two nights. Why was it reduced to one night the Fairview trip? >> I'm not I'm not entirely sure >> was the age of the grade change also. So I think to be seventh, right? So it used to be seventh graders, right? So the Philadelphia Philadelphia trip is now in our second grade and that's a that's a twoight event. Washington is the, you know, the traditional >> length and in the um before we moved sixth grade to the middle school. Um the main trip for our seventh graders was and it was a longer time at Fairview team building and all those types of things. And then the Washington trip was quite longer because they did Washington and then they did Philadelphia on the way home um >> in in one in one trip
028for 8th grade. So when we moved sixth grade to the middle school, it was an opportunity to split that trip out and not lose a whole week of of school in June for our eighth grade and then you don't have opportunities forever. So I think that we left forgot that part of it. So sixth grade was one night and then two nights for seventh. >> All right. And now we are ready uh people who are on this side going to shift toward uh go into a little bit of our esports presentation. Nate's always pushing the microphone. Uh this is uh Tom Santoro. Tom has been a language arts teacher and a special education teacher at the Macan schools. Um little known fact that some people don't realize that he's also been the uh coach of
029our high school esports team for the last how many years? >> Three years now. >> Last three years. U so I'll let him talk about that and he'll talk about some of the I guess accolades and and success that that club has had that team has had that I know many of us aren't aware of because they're they're not getting the they're not getting the highlights that that some of our other um organizations get. Uh then Tom will uh roll into a little discussion about what esports is. >> All right. Um thank you very much everyone for allowing me to speak. Mr. Novak, uh board of education, Dr. Kitchens. Um you know, this is one of those topics that I am very passionate about. Um I've been an esports coach here for three years. Before
030I joined West Milford, I was a coach starting in actually 2018. I've had a team make it to the final four in the state for Rocket League. Um, walked away from a team that won a state championship in order to come to West Milford. Uh, and but you know, our successes here in West Milford in our first year, we qualified for the playoffs uh for Overwatch in Garden State esports. This was before everything got split into the group system that NJSIA follows. So out of the nearly 200 schools involved, we made it into the playoff which was about 32 teams. We got to about 16 before we were eliminated. Following year, second year of the program, we finished top eight and had one student who got recognized as an all-star uh one of 10 students
031recognized as an all-star for the state of New Jersey. Uh this year, uh unfortunately was a bit of a rebuilding year um for us. We've struggled a little bit, but with the presentation I'm about to go through for you, I have such high hopes for what the future is because in Makipin right now, there is a new group of students looking to join the team and to refill the ranks for us. So, first off, I've been talking about esports as if you all understand what this is. Uh, these are some of the images you probably see when you're looking at it. You might have seen kids watching videos on YouTube or twitch.tv where there's a person just talking over the video game that they're playing or you just see people sitting in front of a
032computer screen or gaming screen playing. Um, but actually it is scholastic competition now. So, if you look in the bottom corner of the picture there, you see two schools right before they go and they take the field um by going and sitting in front of their gaming computers to actually play the game. So, now why esports? Well, 2019, the winner of Wimbledon took home a prize of $2.9 million. The winner of the Fortnite World Cup took home over $3 million. And this has only grown more in proportional. Every year it's grown. Um, this has now led to students actually earning college scholarships and job offers sometimes right out of high school. So before you know the fun fact for you all, uh, think about this. Based on Forbes magazine uh their review in 2022, the
033music industry made 26.2 billion globally. Movie industry only made 26 billion globally. The video game industry made 184.4 billion. >> So more than triple those two numbers combined. This is why it's so important for us to utilize this avenue. Um, students are already engaged in it. Students are already talking about it within the classrooms coming in talking about what they did on Fortnite or talking about what they did on Marvel Rivals. This is now giving them that avenue to, you know, use it in an academic way. So, let me turn this over now to Mr. Novak. So one of the one of the things that I believe interested us in it um in the last two years was the research coming in after the pandemic with students who are we had a sharp rise in
034uh school phobia um social emotional learning concerns students who had trouble like reconnecting with uh reconnecting with their peers and and you know coming out of their homes. Uh so esports they've been doing the research on um how it's had a big impact big impact on chronic absenteeism. Chronic absenteeism by definition is a student who is absent for 10% or more during the school year. So that for us that's a student who is absent 18 times or more. Uh we do have a few schools in our district that are currently on corrective action plans for uh high percentage of chronic absenteeism and uh we believe introducing this program into the middle school could uh could help with that. Middle school is our location that has the highest rate of chronic absenteeism. So we believe that
035um you know this is just one of many processes that we have in place to to meet that uh to improve that need. uh increased engagement leads to improved attendance. Uh the research behind it, you know, students who participate in eports programs often report a stronger sense of belonging, motivation to attend school. So often the student who's not uh connected to the traditional athletics or the traditional clubs, doesn't have a strong um in-person fan base, is just, you know, um you know, playing with their friends online and and you know, connected that way. don't often see that connection at school that leads to a desire uh over time to not want to be there and to be where they are socially uh successful. Uh esports gets kids out of that uh out of that habit.
036Uh schools offering structured esports programs so notable improvements in school attendance and behavior for previously disengaged students. So we know our demographic. We know all of the students that we have uh who are um chronically absent and we are this is going to be a you know we're implementing an esports uh class going to be uh taught by Mr. Santoro. Um it's not very little of it is actually gameplay. A lot of it is team building and um social emotional learning skills and and you know a lot of those um public speaking there. There's a there's a lot of components of a successful career that go into what it means to be part of an esports program. Uh we are tracking we're going to do this as an action research project and take a look
037at the you know students who we have currently our cohorts of students who are currently chronically absent and track how this works out over the over the next year or two and then be able to report back on on do we see the do we see what this the research suggests we're going to see by the implementation of uh of an esports program providing purpose and connection something that's been in education for for a very long time is the the you know the phrase the three C's. Every student wants to be capable, connected and contributing. Um there's been a there's been a disconnect in those things you know since since the pandemic and and I um you know and a gap in that interconnection for uh for kids. This is one of a few one
038of many ways that we can try and um you know correct correct those uh those disconnects. So, academic esports. Uh, this is where, as Mr. Novak was just saying, students are going to be learning teamwork. They're going to develop critical thinking skills. Leadership skills will come along with this and how to be part of a team. they're going to have to learn how to win, how to lose. Um because unfortunately with video games, not everyone can be a winner. Um and this is really, you know, we get into it like there are other middle schools in New Jersey that have esports programs that we would be able to compete against. Um it's not just high school competition, there is a middle school level competition as well for this. So benefits for it as um you
039know in terms of what does this look like academically in terms of our pathways program not only we developing critical thinking skills students that get involved in esports will start uh getting experience and exposure to graphic design coding. When I say competition I mean the creation and the running of a competition. So having students actually come into a class one day and setting up their own tournament rather than okay everyone draw a number and we are going to just randomly place you uh teamwork. Some of these games are going to require that they need to be in communication in order to succeed. Um as I get through the game list I'll point those out to you. Collaboration with these games that require teamwork. It's not just you can sit there and be quiet, you must
040be communicating and working with the group. One person decides to go rogue, that team is now at a disadvantage. So, and this is where communication again is one of those critical skills. So now outside of video games, so I say this many times, esports is not just for the gamers, it's for anyone who wants to get involved because we need people um to do social media management and marketing. Part of those skills that this course is going to use is utilizing the green screen to be able to talk about game clips of what they're seeing going on, what makes this clip so special. um which is also content creation where students now can utilize this in their own everyday lives, not just in the classroom. We'll teach them how to stream as well so that
041they can broadcast their gaming uh out to a wider audience. Shoutcasting, um which is another word for it, the playbyplay, the commentary announcements. These are looking for in high school that you're in middle school now. you get to start developing these skills not at the high school level and broadcasting because we will hopefully be I shouldn't say hopefully we will be putting out content through a school sponsored Twitch channel for all the great things that we go doing. So now what does this kind of go looking like in a classroom? Well, if a student is looking at, you know, I just made a blueprint for a house, we can now have them go into a game like Minecraft and actually build the blueprint of that house. They're going to be able to utilize gaming footage
042that they recorded and captured uh to create a to tutorial or play-by-play commentary. Uh, I know from my own personal experience, I've w caught my nephew just watching other people play video games. And I'm like, why aren't you just doing that? And he's like, if I knew how to do it, I totally would do it. And that just kind of stuck with me of, hey, in this class now, I can actually teach a kid like my nephew how to do this. Uh they can create their own uh social media channel networking um by creating smaller clips of this, putting out larger ones and even allowing them to possibly start generating their own income at a middle school, high school level. And they get to expand upon these skills once they go up into the high
043school by either following one of our uh computer science or graphic art pathways. So, at the middle school, the games that are currently available at the uh Makipin esport club are Super Smash Brothers, Mario Party, Fortnite, Minecraft, Overcooked, which is one of these teamwork-based games where uh just this is a less known one. you are managing a restaurant with a teammate and needing to fulfill dining orders as they keep coming in. Uh Mario Kart, which is another we use it as a team-based game, almost similar to how Track does it. We go keeping track of times in order to determine which team is the winner of these little Mario Kart meets. and Rocket League, which is a soccer like game using pretty much RC cars in order to play. Now, at the high school, uh
044we do, uh offer Super Smash Brothers. A new one that is going to be offered it that I know a lot of students are very happy about now is the Marvel Rivals game. Um, Fortnite is still offered, Minecraft, uh, League of Legends, Mario Kart, Valerant, Street Fighter, and Rocket League. So, all these games have that teamwork component. Even the ones that traditionally you think of, oh, it's a single player. How is this a teamwork? Well, for something like Super Smash Brothers or Street Fighter, you're in a team of three and it's best of three. And here are some of the photos of our Makapin esports club since we have been up and running. So you can see um students are all just kind of gathering uh in the top right corner. That's the overcook game
045that I was referring to. But you have students who are you know while they're waiting for a turn to get in. They're watching. They are analyzing the gameplay that is going on. and after a match is going on, you know, giving one another feedback and criticism on how to improve. Those are those critical thinking skills that we are referring to and they're already doing it now in a unofficial capacity without realizing. It's exactly what I'm hoping and wanting to see in a classroom environment. So, the other thing is community matters. Uh, esports is offered to students of all backgrounds. Uh, Garden State esports, which is the New Jersey uh, governing body for esports, has a Valkyrie league for all female competition, a unified program, and a general uh, program for all. So it is when
046I say it's equal access for participation I mean anyone can participate with roles for managers players shout casters and content creators it doesn't mean this is for gamers only anyone who wants to get involved and has a passion for this uh is in available to join and all of these roles are important you know emphasizing one more time they are learning realworld skills already in a middle school level. We're promoting healthy competition and positive values. I have gone over and sent stretches for uh gaming to avoid things like carpal tunnel syndrome um to family members that are doctors of just, hey, I'm going to be doing this class and I want to make sure that these stretches are actually appropriate and they've gotten back to me. First, you're going to teach a class on this.
047And secondly, these stretches are great. We should have been doing them since we were uh teenagers. Um, and students have been saying that, yeah, we can play the games at home, but it's nothing compared to being in the room with one another. Um you know we had to do some upgrades today unfortunately having to cancel club and students were coming up to me just can I can I come tomorrow even though it's not my day can I when can I make up a day like they are wanting this program. So once again Mr. Thanks. >> I made the font a little too small for myself. Um, and Megan, I see you nodding as we're talking here. You understand this language? >> Okay. Many of us don't. I don't know what Twitch is. I don't know
048what shout casting is, but but he does know that. >> And they do. So that's why this uh that's why this matters. >> Um, so how it fit. So, Highlander Pathways is something that we launched this year for our um incoming eighth graders going to the high school where it's a college and u career readiness pathway. Um esports fits um wonderfully into our existing computer science and our um broadcasting journalism pathway. Uh so what a um you know one of the things we talk about when we implement structures in the middle school that we want to see carry through to the high school is about building capacity. So, as we add uh a a class such as esports or where you see we're not only offering esports, we're offering robotics, we're offering basic computer programming
049so kids can get those conceptual hands-on skills for what programming is before it transitions to a um C++ or or Java type experience. Um it start it starts here. here. So, I'm not going to go through all these things, but what you can see is a a progression of, you know, from exposure uh to digital citizenship, which is something that I've talked about in this room forever. Um content creation, streaming, how to uh the public speaking piece, basically public speaking skills. That's something that our high school teachers see lacking um for a majority of our students because we we don't have currently uh we don't have a process in place where the public speaking is in a natural um I guess a naturally engaging way to the students that we have with us now. We
050have the the iPhone generation is is in our schools now and they see things a little bit differently and we have to we have to adjust. Uh as you move on to 8th grade exposure to coding, video game design, uh basic IT supports, hardware, peripherals, software setups, how to connect a controller, how you know those are those are actually like programming skills as they move into the um high school. That's where a CTE pathway can begin and that's where a a student will be able to uh sort of fine-tune their interest. Are they going to go the the pathway of broadcasting and uh multimedia uh video TV video editing or are they going to go the path of um computer science and computer programming? That's something that we now offer. We have that for every
051student who wants to be part of it at the West Milford High School and this is only going to enhance it. uh if you see as you progress and I want to point out one um social media strategy, audience engagement, these are all you know all very lucrative careers that our students um can have access access to. We don't have um a great process for uh creating access to these uh to these markets yet with with some of our our current offerings um game design path. So, starting in 11th grade, I'm going to point out one thing there I've been talking about a lot lately. Uh, something called Unreal Engine. And that Megan's nodding, love it. Like speaking, that's what that's what we're doing it for. We're speaking their language. Um, Unreal Engine. Unreal Engine
052is the is the um, give me a word. >> Program. Did I say program? Is that old? It's the go-to for design for not only video games, but also CGI for post-prouction on movie and television. >> So, in my, you know, in layman's terms, it's how they're making Fortnite, it's how they're creating Marvel and Star Wars movies. So, that's a lucrative career path and our students are going to be uh getting exposed to those types of things or whatever comes after Unreal Engine once once that's beyond. So again, these are going to be part of our pathways for our our students as they progress forward. >> So again, I have now pretty much I started coaching esports since just before CO. Um, so what's changed since CO? The New Jersey School Board Association is now
053allowing for high school students to earn esport varsity letters as of this school year. Uh New Jersey through Garden State Esports has developed its own high school, middle school, and collegiate esport league. Uh in addition, there's a national collegiate e uh esport program. um number of esports labs at colleges and schools has greatly increased that even community colleges are now starting to you know convert those commuter lounges into esport labs and gaming competition fundraisers are on the rise which leads us to the one that I have been telling Mr. Novak that I've wanted to do for years now. A Smash Madness tournament where we can get 64 students into one March Madness like bracket and narrow it down to one champion. [Music] >> All right. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Santoro. So, we are uh
054the date on that hasn't been revealed yet because we are still in the process of networking the lab and um Mr. Mr. Glenn's going to pop up in a minute and talk about the process for how we built the esports lab uh here here in West Milford and I'll fill some time while Tom switches uh switches gears. Uh along with that, that's probably going to be our ribbon cutting night uh where we're going to, you know, first bring in a much larger crowd into the esports space. Um, as you see the presentation, you're going to see it's not only it's not only esports, it's also going to be future home of um, Macup and Robotics and Mac and Robotics Club, which is a robotics program right now is currently in a classroom on desks. And
055now it's a true fully functioning lab with access to a um, robotics field, which is the space that they need to complete tasks and to go to compete. Um we're we're seeing uh I can keep I can talk stop filling more time but last part before I turn it over to to Mr. Gwen is the um we are in the process of creating the first middle school competition uh intercolastic competition in Pay County because we are going to be hosting a um middle school esports team from Little Ferry to come to the Mackman school and go against um the club that uh Mr. Santoro's been um been been working on. So uh you know very excited about that and I'll turn it off to you know dream to to reality. I can just know that
056as I turn. All right. So, thank you, Mr. Novak. Uh, so, oh, here we go. Thank you very much. Um, so I just want to kind of run through how we got to where we are with this. Um, Dan, Mr. Novak, came to me in December last week before we uh went on the Christmas break and he uh wanted to know if we could we could make it happen and uh I was very excited. Um when when we went and we walked into the former wood shop at Mackin School, um at the time it was being used as a uh a storage area. Um and I welcomed the challenge and I knew that my team could do it. um it was being used for storage and there was just all kinds of stuff that that
057we wanted to get out of there and we also saw an opportunity to recycle. So, um was where we started from. So, we moved a lot of machinery. Uh we sent it sent some of it to the high school. Uh we repurposed several items including some of the tables and uh the stools right there. The schools, those are the ones that are actually in there. Um, we donated a lot of supplies to the uh to the STEM lab that's across the hallway. Um, so yeah, we uh started by cleaning up the space. Uh, we removed the cabinets on the walls and the bookshelves. This is where the the green screen. Uh, you'll see later that's where we put it. And uh, this is the wall that that some of the game uh, consoles are on.
058This is a a very important workbench in the space as you'll see. Um, there's an overhead view. Uh, we got together with with Tom and and we're, you know, and we're cleaning out the space and we started to plan and and kind of dream of what the space could could actually be. And, you know, with Tom and his his knowledge and and, uh, having done this kind of thing before was instrumental in our setting up our our thing here. So, um, cleaning up the space starting to take shape here. Uh, here's a green screen. It's aluminum studs, sheetrock, and then we had to get the green screen paint. Um, we took all that extra stuff out. Uh, and we This is that workbench that we wanted to transform into a we wanted a wall, but
059you technically can't put a wall there the way that we envisioned it. So, we kind of built a piece of furniture that will kind of act like a wall to separate the two areas. Um, so that's that same workbench that I pointed out earlier. Um, so we refreshed the floor. We used a machine with a diamond pad on it. Scuffed up the floor. Uh, put a two-part epoxy on the floor with an additive for traction. Uh, which I used dark was a nice color. Now, this is the uh the workbench uh that's now part of the wall. And here's your green screen. Um, this is the actual green screen with the with the paint. As you can see, there's light being reflected on there from the windows and the sun. Uh, this is where the
060the gaming consoles are were going to be put. Um, so yeah, we repurposed tables from from here that we had in storage uh as the the tables for for the lap. Um, and uh, we So, I wanted to highlight this because this is that workbench. This is uh, Glen Keith. He's our carpenter. Uh, he did a heck of a job. Um, he's got the the electric going through the the the wall. All the cables run through, so it looks nice. Um, and he uh, basically made something out of nothing, I think. Um, so we have 10 gaming stations. Uh, each station has two smaller monitors and one bigger monitor. Uh, I guess Tom, you might be able to tell what the purpose of the different size monitors are, whatever. So, in order to just kind
061of allow for more gameplay to happen, um, or when we're just working in smaller gaming groups, uh, the larger 45 in monitor is for the multiplayer games where we are having more than two students play at one time. we have had up to eight students playing simultaneously on one of those 45 in screens. Um, and then on the smaller 20-in screens, those are where the students are able to play uh single player on allow for more space. uh once we actually get going and we start utilizing uh more of games like Rocket League where students need their own smaller screen, this is where we're actually going to be utilizing those 20-in screens on a more regular basis as well. Thank you. Um so yeah, and then these are the larger screen TVs that we have.
062uh one is featured in the gaming area and the other one is uh in the broadcasting viewing area. >> Um so we we had to add some window tinting. If you look on this lower left side, you got that glare that's coming right across that green screen. So, we we uh added a uh window tint and we added some nice new air conditioners in there cuz it's all tech. Uh it adds to the to the temperature of the room. So, we uh took a proactive approach on that. All right. So, now it's game time. We we started bringing the kids in with the club. This is where the fun begins. Uh I entered a little contest in the bracket and I got I got my I got whooped. my my career in the esports game
063was uh pretty pretty short. But, you know, it's it's fun to walk into a room and just see the kids playing, smiles on their faces, coming up and thanking, you know, me and and Tom and and everybody for for the work. And it's, you know, it's it's worth it. Um, and you know, they said, you know, they they coach each other, they help each other, and it's it's really encouraging to see. Um, this is a very important slide. This is what it's all about. Uh, this is quotes from the kids. The This is what they're saying about the club and the the activity that we got set up over there at Mac. So, um, this is this is where it's at. Um, you know, take that in for a second. But um yeah, it's uh
064it's a it's a great club. It's a it's awesome. So um so how much do we spend on it? That's what we spent on material for this job. >> The quote that we got >> the quote what what was the quote that we got? Uh the initial quote was um just under half a million dollars, $492,000 to build a state-of-the-art esports arena uh in the upper library of the high school. That was the first first quote that we got after we after sticker shock and and explaining are you nuts? Um they came down quite a bit and then the cheapest quote that we got and we we went through the quotes today. Um the one of the quotes that fits the specifications of what we built uh was for about $169,000. So that was a
065quote we got to build what uh Mr. Glenn and his crew were able to build for that. Um that's the materials, that's the cost to the um that's the cost to the local budget. uh the technology tools that you saw, I was able to um leverage our um access to title money. Um Dr. Belzer and I uh collaborated on the computer science grant um last year. So we we were able to um utilize funds from the computer science grant for this purpose. We made a great connection at digital citizenship night this year where we were visited by uh her name is Rebecca Colop. She was the um going blank, it's a long title. Um computer science innovation specialist for the state of New Jersey. She works for the New Jersey Department of Education. I invited
066her to digital citizenship night. Um because part of the grant was to hold an outreach event and we do an outreach event better than anybody. Uh so she came and she saw what we did and then >> and yes, she didn't they didn't want to leave. Um, so I spoke with her afterwards about allowable uses for our grant funds and you know if our middle school esports um process once we implement the um the the cycle courses for our sixth and seventh graders and maybe a more elaborate course for eighth graders. Um that pathway if it leads to our CTE pathways, it's an allowable use and that's exactly what we are using it for. So we we made a great relationship. She's been our um you know Obi-Wan Kenobi in in uh in this process
067with being able to ask a question. Can we do this? Can we do that? And she's been all on board. So cost to West Milford is right there after a quote of you know starting with you know half a million dollars. That's what that's what it cost us to do it because of the knowhow and the people that we the people that we have were able to to you know see the vision and get it done. I still don't know where Shoutcast is. Um, and Twitch, but they do. >> So, so these are the folks that made it happen. Uh, Glen Keith is my carpenter. Phil Ditz, my electrician, Mike Cole's our plumber. U Mike Carter, Wayne Barrett, Todd Keller, Scott Hardy Jr., we're all maintenance. Uh, Billy Schaer is a custodian, and Eric is
068a partner that comes to help us. Um and uh they they just weren't uh you know timing was part of it for this because it was the winter and you know we were a little slow with some other projects so this was this was a good opportunity to uh put those schools uh to work. So help me out. Um special thank you for Tom Santoro for his guidance in the design of the lab facilitating the esports club. um you're truly valued with your dedication, your expertise. Uh please uh and uh the possibility is endless and uh thank you for your time. I don't know if Dr. >> Dr. Kitchen didn't mention yet that we are holding um our executive session in the esports lab today. So you get to see it. Um you get to
069see it for yourselves. >> So I I do want to thank I do want to thank Mr. Novak, uh Mr. Glenn, uh Mr. Santo for all their work that went into this. Uh worth mentioning that this idea did stem uh our board was involved in the origin of this whole thing because this did uh this conversation or originated back at school boards in the fall uh while we were walking the floor together and there was an esports company that was down there. Um in fact that that company was I believe that was the same >> that was the company that gave us the the large quote. We didn't walk through with them to discuss what was necessary. We didn't get a bid from them. we got another bid based on what they told us was
070necessary. But um again, like so all of you were a part of this as well because that's kind of where the whole thing started from and and I'm just so blessed to work with some go-getters that that they get an idea and they run with it. So again, Mr. Novak, Mr. Glenn, Mr. Centaur, great job. [Applause] >> I think that concludes our report. I just want to say thank you to Dr. McLolin for his support in the in the process. [Music] >> Awesome. >> Thank you, Mr. Novak. >> I really love on that booth the whole time real quick. I I just want to say, you know, I was down at school boards and this was so exciting to me and the fact that we were able to bring this to fruition in such a
071short amount of time and on such a shoestring budget. I mean, the one thing West Milford does is does things really well on with a little bit of money. And I'm so excited that we're bringing this to our district and to our kids. And um I just had one question there. So the classes that you um like sixth, seventh, 8th. So is that for September? >> That's for September. >> And so when are the kids going to be able to pick those since they already picked their electives? >> So the um we approved the creation of the esports curriculum a couple meetings ago. Um that's a curriculum writing that we're going to be doing this summer. uh again this summer with with uh Tom and I think um one of his um supports in that
072process. Uh it's going to be replacing the old um multimedia >> okay >> um cycle course. So this this will be assigned to students. It's going to be part of their cycle course offerings. Um so that's something that we've been working on with Dr. Matlo and um Mr. Brooks article about uh scheduling this and cycling it in. As we mentioned with the uh reference to chronic absenteeism, those are the students who are going to be uh scheduled first when we when we bring our fifth grade from, you know, our incoming fifth graders who are in that demographic. They're going to get to experience this first because we're going to, you know, try and build that excitement and see if the the research really supports what we're talking about. Um, in terms of scheduling, that's um
073a process that they're they're in in progress doing now. So, I don't think it's going to be a um not going to reopen it for um you know, for course requests. It's just going to be a replacement of course requests that may have been already in there that are um that have changed when we had um some retirements, you know. So, when they they opened that that portal >> um February. >> Yeah. you know, so this was we were still building at that point. Um, so that that communication will come out once we know exactly how that schedule is going to lay out and how many kids we can get um opportunity and exposure. >> Awesome. Thank you again for creating this space literally and figuratively for this demographic of kids. >> Yeah. Well, it's
074for everybody, but we're starting with that. You know, that's the one thing, you know, looking back at some of the things we've done. Uh when we started the STEM class at Macken, it was for uh it started for uh GMT students, gifted and talented. Um and you know, in hindsight, that was a mistake. You know, STEM was for all and that's what this is. So, uh we're going to get as many kids exposure to this as possible. And you know, the students who have that interest, it'll probably be more of a selection course as they reach eighth grade and go on to the high school. But in sixth and seventh grade, they're going to get exposed to coding. They're going to get exposed to esports. You're exposed to robotics. They're going to get exposed to
075uh our get exposed to a variety of uh a variety of our options. >> Thank you, Mr. Novak. Anyone else? I just Yeah. >> Is Is there an esports program available for elementary children? >> Not yet. >> So, we have a great you know, we have a great space and it's big. You'll see it when we're when we're over there later. Um and we have talked about um you know with Mr. Santo, with Dr. Matos about um opening it up and and allowing for a club, which would require a bus, which we've done in the past with our fishing club. They they take a bus somewhere. So if we have to bust our, you know, fifth graders over to get, you know, time in that space to to be part of a club, those are
076things we're we're talking about incredibly. >> Very excited for these kids. Very exciting. >> We're also talking about I don't know. I'm going to ask him if we can rent it out for birthday parties. >> Revenue. >> We have to build a high school lab. All right. Thank you, Mr. Novas. Um, >> Mr. Schultz, special reports and correspondence. >> Sorry, my reports not as interesting and fun as that. I just have the April 29th regular public budget meeting uh budget hearing meeting minutes and the April 29th executive session minutes. >> I move to approve the April 29th regular public budget hearing meeting and executive session meeting minutes. >> Second. Second. >> Any discussion? I I just have one quick comment. Whoever does the minutes, >> excellent job. >> Mrs. Conland, she does a great job.
077>> Board pass on the regard. >> Take your weight away by a great job. >> She loves it. >> All right. All those in favor? Any opposed? uh president's report. Thanks to Miss Sidner. Yet again, I really have nothing to add to your extensive report. I'm going to miss you, Megan. >> So, let's move on to public comments, which is the first public comments on agenda items only. Anyone wishing to speak? >> Mrs. Romeo? >> No. >> There you go. >> We're running low on our batteries. That's why So hold on that is you are you gonna are you speaking? >> So all speakers will have five minutes to speak until the period. >> I'm sorry >> there's somebody signed up. >> Uh no one contacted me. >> Someone out of here. >> All speakers
078will have five minutes to speak until a period of 30 minutes transpires. Before speaking, please state your name, group affiliation, and address for the record. Members of the public who have requested to speak prior to the meeting will be recognized by the chair first. After speaking, all speakers are asked to sign the register provided and give their full name, group affiliation, and their address. All statements shall be directed to the presiding officer. No participant may address or question board members individually. All speakers are expected to have read the statement within the agenda regarding the regulations concerning public comments. Members of the public are reminded that they are legally responsible and liable for their comments. Um, Mrs. Romeo, >> good evening. I'm here tonight to talk specifically about >> So, if you could just state your
079name and address. Sorry, even though I said your name. >> K. Romeo, Long Press Drive, Oakidge. Um, item number 16.14. Um, if you know me or if you've watched any meeting that I've ever been on here in my time as a board member, you know that um, I am certainly excited and passionate about West Milford and I am the first one, like Mr. Rano just did, to say thank you for spending our money wisely. Um, but I am also normally the first one to point out when we're making mistakes or when we have made mistakes. And so I'm here tonight to ask you, please do not make another mistake. Please vote no on 1614. Um, and there are a few reasons why. Number one, you've already paid David Rubin about $2,000. Um, I know that
080when I was a board member, I didn't always have all the information. I sat in that seat and I felt like there were so many unanswered questions sometimes. Well, now where I am now, I have overed every document I can possibly over so that I can have the answers to all the questions. And I know what you've paid this man already. I know that if you had indemnified me from the beginning, it would have cost you less money. So, if you continue to pay him, you are going to continue to waste money as we you've already done with hiring him last June. Um, and I have his bills if anyone wants them forwarded. We could you could also get them from Mr. Schultz, of course. Um, this board uh made a very uh difficult decision
081I think faced with a time of things that we didn't know about. Why? Because we always all worked together. We communicated really well in my time on the board. Really well. And when there were ethics problems, we discussed to them. I remember being in that back room and and people coming in and saying, "Uhoh, I you know, whatever it was." And we communicated. In this case, as you know, as I said in the last meeting, I tried to communicate, right? And I'm think the other side will not communicate with me. So therefore, I think the board did what they thought was right. However, it's not right. By hiring an attorney, you have as a board impeded yourself like put yourself in the middle of this ethics charge. So first mistake was hiring an attorney to
082discuss it at all. Second mistake was anyone other than the people named in it discussing it. Um and so now it is considered board business. Um as it's multiple times people on the board not knowing have made mistakes, right? And so like I said, every time you speak to the attorney about an ethics charge that does not have your name in it, um or if you are speaking of someone else, then you are putting yourself involved in that ethics charge, which board members are not supposed to do. Um the other thing is that as I mentioned last uh board meeting is that it was discussed in committee um and therefore it is definitely board business and so therefore you need to indemnify Kate Romeo. Um and with that I ask you to please vote no
083on hiring David Rubin again. Um it's not the right decision. It's not the right decision for every single member of this community, not just me. Okay. Um, it's for every one of us. We've wasted our money on that already. Please don't continue to do that. Um if you are unsure of what to do then right now um you know as you go through at least table 16.14 and discuss it um and you know it would just really be sad to hire David Rubin to continue to misappropriate our tax dollars and that's what no one wants to see you know so this situation is sad. I I know that no one likes it. It's not a good situation, but um moving forward, this board has to do the right thing. And so um that's it about
084about that. The last thing I'll say about this is that um policy number 0148 um along with hiring David Rubin, if anyone wants a copy, I have a few copies of the policy. Um it is the board member indemnification policy, West Milford district policy. You can find it on their website. Um it's my understanding that this policy has never been discussed, not in committee, not in a meeting. So it's interesting that um decisions have been made yet you've never even discussed not following your own policy. You've never discussed it. So um that's really a problem. And I know that most of you are here to do the right thing. So please do the right thing. um have discussions about decisions that are being made, educate yourself on who you're hiring and why. Um I know
085that that you want to do that. Uh you don't want to be in the dark. You want to know what's happening. So um thank you very much and have a great night. >> Thank you, Mrs. Romeo. Anyone else wishing to speak? If there's somebody signed up, should I take them up? >> Is someone signed up to speak? >> Well, I didn't sign up. >> Yeah. Is it about an agenda item? >> Okay. >> You don't have to say which agenda item it is. Yeah. >> Did you sign that? >> I did sign. >> Okay. So, you are signed. Okay. >> Okay. First, if you could just state your name and address and any group affiliation that you have. >> Perfect. Kristen McFarland, uh, 122 Lakes Shore Drive in Huitt. >> Thank you. >> Um, my
086kids go to UGL school. Um, my son, he's now in Makipin. Um, I, um, understand that you guys are moving Miss Papis. I think that's a huge mistake. Um, I understand she has this math certification that you guys, I guess, want in Makipin, but she belongs in second grade. She has spent her career moved around so many times and now she's finally found her home in second grade and I really think it's a mistake moving her. Sorry. She means so much to my family and to that school. Sorry, I wasn't going to get upset. Um, so I really, really, really think you guys have to reconsider. Um, she belongs there and and and you know what? If you were moving her to, let's say, Marshall Hill because they need a second grade teacher, that's one
087thing. But to move this elementary school teacher to a middle school, I think is a real big mistake. I think she she needs to stay at UGL in second grade. So, please reconsider moving her and try and find um maybe a different teacher to put in Makipin. Um that's it. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Anyone else wishing to speak? >> Move to close public comments. >> Second. All those in favor? >> Any opposed? Okay. So, um I know the amendments to the agenda are already included in there. Correct, Dr. Kitchen? >> Correct. Everything in there is uh as it is as it is presented in front of you right now. >> Thank you. So, could I have a motion to adopt the agenda as presented? >> Like to mo move to adopt the agenda
088as um distributed. Second. >> Okay. All those in favor. >> Any opposed? >> Education. Mrs. Mr. Stovich. >> I'd like to move items 12.2 to 12.15 under education. >> Second. >> Thank you. >> Any discussion? Uh Dan, we just sorry we were just talking about uh changing field trips. Are these the field trips or are these going to be amended at some point or >> So this um field trip locations list number 12.9 are you talking about? >> So that's just our standing um list of uh of locations that we we board approve every year. It's a it's a massive list. It's basically every place we've ever been. We we purge it every once in a while for places that have closed or no longer with us. Uh this doesn't um >> just a catch
089all >> this. Yeah, it's just a catch all. So all the places that we do go with that with those curriculum based trips are on this list. If we meet with a grade level and decide um that we want to make a change and something's not on the list, then I'll bring it to you for an individual approval and then it'll go on this list and then we approve it again at the end of the year um annually. Thank you, Mr. Novette. Uh, any other discussion? Mrs. Dwire. >> Um, on 1212, have we um granted this child tuition previously or is this something new? >> It does say retroactive from May 7th. So, >> okay. But did we do it last year also? It looks familiar. I don't know if we can talk about specific
090uh >> Oh, I just wanted to know if it's >> I don'turing if it's reuring >> if it's reoccurring. >> I don't know the answer to that. But I also not sure if we're able to discuss an individual individual placement. Yeah. >> Thank you. >> Any other discussion? >> Seeing non-local, please. Mr. Schultz, >> Mr. Stovich? Yes, >> Mrs. Dwire. >> Yes, >> Mr. Jurgensson. >> Yes, >> Mr. Lippy. >> Yes, >> Mrs. Mark. >> Yes, >> Mrs. Rakano. >> Yes, >> Mrs. Van Djk. >> Yes, >> Mrs. Lockwood. >> Yes, we have no hand carries for education. So, personnel, Mrs. Rano, >> I move, excuse me, I move um items 14.1 through 14.40. And then do I move the hand carries at this >> and also hand carries excuse me uh 15.1 through 15.5
091>> second >> um before we get started I just wanted to acknowledge uh the retirement that's on here. Uh so Miss Newuel, we would just like to acknowledge and thank you for the almost 26 years that you have given to education, the district and your students. Enjoy the next chapter in your life. That is number 14.2. Any other discussion? >> Mrs. Rano, >> um in regards to the resignations, >> we're going to vote no on that. Um, I just want to thank Mr. Schultz for everything you've given to our district. Um, you went to school in our district. You've now come to serve as in the capacity of ultimately business administrator and positions before that. So, I just want to thank you for your time and I want to wish you luck in taking back
092some of that time for your family and um I hope like you really, you know, are able to take some of that time for with your kids. >> Thank you. >> I echo the same. >> Thanks, Michelle. Good luck. Well done. >> You will be. Yes. Good luck. >> You know, I'm that happy. I know. >> Yeah, it's it's going to be hard to beat the commute uh from here, but >> I I just want to Yeah, I just want to thank you all. It's been I've loved working here. The last year has been a blast working Novak and Dr. Ken. Uh this was just a tough opportunity. I had to jump on it for my family, more time with my kids. Um yeah, I'm going to miss everyone. I've had relationships with everyone here
093either on the board or before anyone was on the board or Mrs. Dwire. I did a class project at your house when I was in high school and played baseball with Will when I was a kid. So, yeah, it's been a long ride. I've enjoyed my 10 years here. I can't believe it's been 10 years, but uh just thank you everyone for everything and for getting my start here. >> Just now we're all happy for you. So, congratulations. >> Thank you. We'll see. >> And you're still here for a couple of months. So, >> I am. I'll look at As for a different way to be. That's really nice. >> Any other >> in the audience? >> Any other discussion? >> Thank you, Mr. >> Squire. >> Okay. On 1414, um I just want to
094know how that time is going to be split for that $20,000 stipen. Um will that stipen work be done after the day or within the day of his regular duties? >> So, I think It's not working. >> I think the answer is a little bit of both. Um, so essentially a lot of those things are already integrated into things we have going on. Um, as we're evaluating our our needs, I know we've discussed this at the committee level. There is a there's a significant cost savings, but I also think that there's an opportunity there to increase um the boots on the ground support in the buildings. So really what we're looking for from that role from Mr. Novak is oversight of personnel more so than than the tech expertise. Although he does have that as
095well because as you can see even just the construction of an esports lab, he knows what our needs are and how to to empower the appropriate people to to best meet those needs. So the idea is that uh it's more of a it's more of an oversight of the people. The work that is being done within the department is still going to be done by the individuals. again the boots in the ground, the techs. Um, we're looking to add a tech position and even with that, it's still going to be a really considerable cost savings to the district, almost $150,000. And I do believe that with with the uh >> that's even with his 3% raise and the 20,000. >> Yeah, it's Yeah, it's a it's a really significant cost savings. And I think that
096uh you know, I have all the faith faith in the world in Mr. Novak's ability to uh set up structures and manage people in a way that um I think some of that time is going to be uh basically taken back by efficiency and systems. So uh you know we've got some ideas already of things we've been discussing that can be tweaked. Um so that's that's how we envision it going and and it is something they are stipens so it is something that if the structure is not working we already had a conversation about reevaluating this after a year to see if this is going to work. What excites me about that is that even if we decide after a year that maybe this isn't working, we want to we want to go back and
097rehire for that that uh supervisory role. Um I now have a whole year of eyes in the department to see exactly what some of those needs are. So if we if we decide if we if we feel like we're falling short, we'll know exactly where we're falling short and what we need to do to support it. So >> Okay. Thank you. And I have another question. >> Sure. Um on 1416 the unaffiliated um >> well no it's also 1414. >> Yes. >> Yeah. I noticed that um all the salaries are listed for for all the secretaries in the district. Why aren't they listed at the board office? >> So the um the the secretaries the the I don't believe the secretary salaries are listed for that. this this is um aligning them with the the
098unaffiliated are not allowed to be part of the the perk unit for the central office staff because they're confidential secretaries based on that specific >> I'm not I'm not talking about the confidential secretaries I'm talking about the other secretaries in the office your salaries are not there >> these these are the confidential secretaries >> they're all confidential >> the ones that you're approving here so it's not everybody in the office Right. So >> what about number 1414? It just says unaffiliated personnel contract approvals. >> So that's that's not secretaries. Those are the other individual unaffiliated personnel and and in um on our negotiations team and I know we discussed it as well uh at the committee level. The uh the unaffiliated confidential secretaries in central office are not allowed to be part of the perk
099recognized unit. uh but we we decided collectively that we would recognize them locally as a as a unit that could uh negotiate together. So these motions um are aligning them exactly with uh the the same contracts that were offered to the ones that are in the perk recognized unit. So it's uh it's one and the same. It kind of makes everything fair across the board for the people who can be in and those who can't. And then we also made sure it went up onto the agenda in the exact same fashion as the others in that unit. >> But why can't those salaries be listed? >> I mean, we want to be consistent with what we're doing. So, if the salaries if the if the salaries for the individuals in there are not listed, they're
100there by a by unit and they're being recognized locally as a unit, then we're doing it exactly the same as we would for those. The only ones that aren't are the ones that are sort of individuals that are unaffiliated and they're no longer individuals. We're recognizing them as a group. >> Okay? So if a person has a question about um the salaries, they can operate that. >> Yeah, absolutely. Good. Yeah. >> Good. Thank you. >> So it's just a matter of consistency. So again, the only ones you'll see are the ones that are not part of a specific unit. They are unaffiliated. So they're like a single position and though they're no longer a single position. It's a collective group and it's going to match that of uh of the others in the office. >>
101Okay. Thank you. >> Yeah. >> Any other discussion, Mr. Lipic? Uh first, Dan, looking forward to all these summer activities that you have planned here. That's great fun again. Uh second, we're going all the way through 15, right? >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Yep. >> Um looking for looking forward to that one over there. Okay. Um hopefully we'll vote on it. We'll get it passed. There you go. So, I won't say anything to jinx it. >> Any other discussion? Mrs. Buckwag. So, I just wanted to say that I was extremely happy about um having Mr. Novak uh get the stipen and handle uh technology. Um listening to his ideas um since I've been a board member and in technology, he is very in tune with that department as well as what the the shortfalls are.
102Um I think this is a great idea. I think it is a a show of how creative we are with with the little money that we have and I think he's going to do an excellent job. And like Dr. Kitchen said, even if it's only for a year to get us where where we need to be and then put someone else there, I I still think this was a fantastic idea and I support it. >> Thank you, Mrs. Mcmuckwe. Anyone else discussion? I think I want to say something about the 14.21, the transfer of assignments. Um, just speaking as an educator, I know it's not always easy to be assigned or reassigned to another building or school, but you know, our job as educators is to serve the district that we work for. So, I
103really feel that, you know, all of these people are going to where they're being assigned and they're going to take this opportunity to serve the district as the caring, engaging, dedicated educators that they are for all of our students. So, I just want to say thank you for, you know, the compliance for all of the staff members that are going with Grace. >> Thank you, Mrs. J. >> Any other discussion? See nine. Roll call, please. Mr. Schulz. >> Mr. Stovich. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Dwire. >> Yes. >> Mr. Jurgensson. >> Yes. >> Mr. Lippy. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Markour. >> Yes. >> Mr. Rano. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Van Djk. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Lockwood. >> Yes. So now, because she has been voted in and we haven't jinxed it, Dr. Schwarz, congratulations. very excited.
104Say a few words. >> So, first my dad is here. So, thank you. >> He was handling me earlier. >> We're going to pay for that later. >> You've done good, Danny. Um, I just want to thank each of you because throughout my journey in West Milford, uh, one of you, all of you at different times have really been supportive of my time, my efforts, my ideas. Um, so I am very grateful for you supporting me moving on to this next part of my journey in West Milford. The past year with Mr. Schultz and Dr. Kitchen have been incredible. They've been so supportive. And the past 10 years with Mr. know from our UGL days straight on through have been um nothing but inspiring. So, I'd also like to thank all the different staff people
105I've worked with throughout the district over the past 10 years and um I'm here supported tonight now. I'm going to cry because I looked over at them um by the Asha PTA. Um they have been so incredible uh to work with and a true team that I have been blessed to work with over at Ashawa for the past two years. So, I thank them for being here as well. So, I'm looking forward to the opportunity to work with all of you in the future. Thank you so much. Dr. Schwarz, we couldn't be more excited to have you uh step into central office. Um, you know, I think from the time that uh we knew that Dr. Wrestle was going to be stepping away, he is taking a position a little closer to home. And when
106we knew he was stepping away, I had probably a dozen different people tell me that they thought you'd be a great candidate for the job. And and my response was, "Well, I I I hope she applies because I think she would be a great candidate." Um and and uh you know, Mr. Novak and I were at Spring Leadership last week when you went through the uh the first round, but you to my understanding were the unanimous choice from the entire panel. Um and then that was really clear to us in your interview with us as well. So, we're so excited um to have you come aboard because I I really think you're going to do great things. Thank you. >> Can I say something? >> Well, can I just say that I was a part
107of that hiring committee and Dr. Schwartz, your your passion and vision for this district, what you spoke to, what you said and um definitely resonated with all of us and uh I think we were all very excited when you walked out on the possibilities and the future of special education in this district. It's going into some great hands. Thank you. >> I have to say, >> okay, >> I am I am so proud of Dana. I am so proud of her. I watched her on her bicycle with pigtails. >> Um, I watched her many Halloweens trick-or-treating. >> Um, she was my babysitter. She was a phenomenal teacher, a a great student, and now to see her in this position, I am so excited and so proud to say that I know you, Dana. >> Thank
108you. >> Okay, we have to move on. >> Operations and finance. Mr. Lip under operations and finance. like to move forward 161 through 16.39. >> Second. >> Any discussion? >> I have a question. >> Yes, Mr. Roano. on um 16.14 Billy that is just approving that we could use him if we wanted right there. That's no out of pocket upfront cost. >> Correct. It's just a retainer agreement. We have him on retainer. We approved him last year through May 21st uh for a one-year period. So, this would be to get us to the end of the year and then he's on the other renewals on another motion, but it's just a retainer agreement if we use the services that we are built for. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Any other discussion? Seeing none, roll call,
109please. Mr. Schultz. >> Mr. Stovich. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Dwire. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Jurgensson. >> Yes. >> Mr. Lippy. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Mark, >> I absteain from 16.14 and 16.33. >> Yes. To the others. >> Yes. Sorry. Yeah. >> Uh, Mr. Rico. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Van Djk. Um yes. Oh god. Um yes and with the appropriate extensions amendment. >> And Miss Lockwood. >> Yes. >> Okay. M Beccat. Yep. >> Okay. I'd like to move forward 16.40 for >> second. >> Any discussion? So this is for the New Jersey school boards >> attendance or just approval not for the attendance. >> We just accept. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Well, Mr. Schultz, >> Mr. Satovich, that's a good question. >> I stand on myself and yes to the remainder of all. There you go.
110>> There you go. >> Good one to stop. Do it like that. >> We were just making sure. >> Mrs. Dwire, >> abstain on myself. Yes to everyone else. >> Mr. Jurgensson, >> I'll also abstain on myself and yes to everyone else. >> Mr. Lippy, >> abstain appropriately and yes to everyone else. >> Mrs. Markborn, >> abstain on myself, yes to everyone else. >> Mrs. Rano, >> abstain on abstain on myself and yes to everyone else. >> Mrs. Van Dyke, >> abstain on myself and yes to everyone else. >> And Mrs. Lockwood >> abstain of myself and yes to everyone else >> policy. Mrs. McCart 18.2 second. >> Any discussion? >> Yes. Real quick, I just want to point out one thing. My computer seems to be frozen. Do >> you mind? >> Uh, I
111just So, one thing that uh was slightly tweaked on that that I want to draw everybody's attention to. You may have seen it. Um, we added one line. I think it was in alignment actually with the discussion from the policy committee. Um but there uh was a line added to um >> policy regulation. >> Yes. On the use of the electronic devices. Um there was one line that was added just basically uh allowing for further restrict. So we we talked about making sure that the uh building administrator could approve its use in other ways, but we also had a line that said they could further restrict it in other ways. So, in other words, like if it's allowed in the cafeteria by policy, it doesn't mean that the building has to allow it in their
112rules. It just means that they could allow it in their rules. So, um just just so you're aware, I just thought it was in alignment with what we were seeking. Um but it also gives a little bit of of flexibility to make sure that we can set appropriate rules in the individual buildings. >> So, thank you. >> I have a question. >> Sure. >> How are um >> how are they going to be regulated the phones? like are they going to be taken? Did you guys discuss that at all? >> So, I mean obviously it'll be in compliance with the policy. Uh the tentative plan is to have um is to have like pocket charts or something like that where they're going to be surrening them surrendering them when they walk into the academic spaces.
113>> Um our big thing, I know we discussed this at committee, but our big thing was we wanted to make sure that that was handled uh consistently across all the secondary classrooms where that would be where that would come up. um for the main reason that you know if you got 20 kids in the room with $1,000 cell phone that's $20,000 hanging on the wall and if that pocket chart falls off cuz it's not properly hung um I don't know how many screens would have been cracked beforehand but you bet we'll be blamed for everyone that's cracked afterwards. So um I think it's appropriate for us to do it properly. So Mr. Glenn had a couple of ideas. We looked at some different options. Um the last we discussed it was we were talking about
114one of the options was these sort of go boxes you can surrender them into. So if you had a um if you had a you know an evacuation drill you could grab the box of all the devices and ultimately we decided that a go box could go at any time and maybe it wasn't best for it to be something that was uh so easy to be moved and they were more expensive. So in all likelihood it'll be a pocket chart um but to be determined by Mr. and um some appropriately organized way of surrendering the device upon entering the classroom >> and bathroom breaks. Is there any >> Sorry, I teach high school. I'm just really interested on how we're going to roll this out. >> So, to be determined a little bit by the
115building administration how they're going to enforce the rules on some of those things. Um, but we wanted to make sure that the policy was um appropriately restricting uh their access so that it could be a tool that our our teachers could utilize to lean on as a crutch to when they're addressing some of these things cuz I think um without that clear guidance you know it makes it hard because it's different happening different one classroom to the next and then um you know it sort of pins staff members against one another. We want a policy that supports the staff member uh keeping the kids engaged in the learning activities rather than uh their cell phones. >> Okay. >> Any any other discussion? >> Seeing none roll call, please. Mr. Schultz. >> Mr. Satovich. >> Yes.
116>> Mrs. Dwire. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Jurgensson. >> Yes. >> Mr. Lippy. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Markhorn. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Rafano. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Van Dyke. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Lockwood. >> Yes. >> Okay. Committee reports leaison. I see that some of the reports have been uploaded. Is there anyone else wishing to add anything any of their reports? Sorry, Mr. Roano. >> I just wanted to um share that the superintendent round table is this Thursday. So those minutes will be reflected in the next board meeting. >> Thank you. Any others? Okay. So seeing none, so we can move on to old business. Any old business? Move to close all business. Those in >> favor. Any opposed >> and new business? Any new business? >> Move to close. New business. >> Second. >> All
117those in favor? >> Any opposed? Um public comment number two. Anyone wishing to speak in the second public comment. Move to close public comment. Second. >> All those in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? >> That was a big I um executive session. Mrs. Rano >> at 8:41 p.m. I move to go into executive session. Um excuse me. um the purpose of discussing personnel appointments, resignations, current litigation matters, special education matters, negotiations, HIPS, and matters of attorney client privilege. The executive session minutes will not be released until such time as the privilege or confidentiality is no longer applicable. The board will be in executive session for approximately 30 minutes. Um action will not be taken and we will uh dismiss from executive session since we're going to be at them. >> Second I all those
118I those in favor. Any opposed? Okay. >> Yeah. Just to just to reiterate, we are doing it from the Macin lab. And something I should have mentioned when they stepped out. So, uh our our presenters on our esports lab. We're not just racing out of here when their presentation was done, but instead they were racing over to the esports lab to make sure that some of the work that was being done today was appropriately cleaned up. So, it showed nicely for you cuz they was doing there was some wiring in there today, right? So anyway, >> all right. And we will be adjourning from executive session. So >> So board members, you can you can uh drive around to the back corner kind of by where the dumpsters are. If you drive out towards Maple
119Road, um there's a there's the trash enclosure there. There's a little bit of parking back in that area and we'll pop in right through there. Right next to the uh the Yeah. >> Okay. And we will be adjourning for the next session. So good night everyone. Thank you. Thank you for your time.