001I'd like to call the meeting to order if we could have a moment of silence. Excellent to the flag of the United States of America to the republic for 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 administration 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. >> Mr. Sidowitz, >> here. >> Mrs. Mr. Dwire, >> Mrs.
002Jurgensson >> here, >> Mr. Lippy >> here, >> Mrs. Markwart, Mrs. Romeo >> here, >> Mrs. Van Dyke >> here, >> Mrs. Rico >> here, >> Mrs. Lwood >> here, >> Dr. Fenari, your interim superintendent report. >> Thank you, Mrs. Lwood. Uh, good evening everyone. Uh this evening we have the distinct pleasure of having one of our students Kobe Scott will be coming to the microphone to share uh his Eagle Scout um project proposal with us. So Kobe Hello. Uh my name is Kobe Scott. >> Hi my name is Kobe Scott. Uh I am a junior in Westford. uh high school. Um and I'm with a boy scout troop 159. Uh I'm a life rank and I'm working on my eel. Uh I have some papers. This is just like a Thank you. So, as
003I was going along, I just want to say thank you uh to Dr. Finary, the superintendent for allowing me to be here. Uh as well as the board of education for allowing me to be here as well. Um I also also like to thank uh he's not here, but Mr. Stryance, the Westford High School. Um and obviously the guidance of my scout master, Mr. Salucia. Um, so, uh, I am at Life Scout. My name is Kobe Scott and I'm working on my Eagle project. Uh, and my Eagle project, I wanted to be, uh, within school district, obvious uh, and my idea is I want to create signage and a seating area in front of Kilgen. And within the workbook, uh, there should be, uh, at the very end there should be pictures of like roughly
004where it is. Uh, it's, uh, near the Senzo Pond Road. Um, and yeah, so if there's going to be three signs in total, uh, one near the road, double-sided, and that's just going to say, you know, the usual, welcome to Kilgen Field, and then, uh, two more up by the walkway, uh, saying one for Westford baseball and one for Westford field hockey. Uh I just want to commemorate like the teams that play here because the main issue with uh Kill Gallon is that it's like kind of hidden and there's a lot of uh team visiting teams and um uh parents that have trouble trying to find the field. Uh so I just wanted to make sure that that is in order and that uh everyone can find it. Um, and also scouting has been a
005huge part of my life as I've been in it for the past 11 years since I was in first grade. And baseball has been a huge part of my life as I've been in it since minor. So since I was like in first grade as well. So I was thinking that since I am in scouting, I'm in baseball, why not just combine them both for the biggest project of Eagle? Um, so that's where I came up with the idea of creating signage and a little seating area for uh Kill Gap. So, uh, as you're as you're looking through, um, it just says the the prices, it says, uh, the supplies I need, the materials, um, what else? The just the project idea as it as it's written down. Um, so is there any any questions
006uh about the project? >> Where where where is where's the seating? >> Yeah. So the seating uh so it's kind of hard to if you look at the the picture you have Nenzo Pon Road and then you have the the driveway going up to the parking lot. >> Mhm. >> And then um as you can tell there's like a little like pathway. It's kind of hidden within the trees but a pathway going down to the field. >> I know where the how to get to the field. Yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> So, where would the seating go? >> It would be right to the left of the entrance. Oh, >> right there. Uh, yeah. So, uh I'm still trying to work out what would be best if I should do like pee gravel or pavers,
007but my main intention is to do pavers just so it's handicap accessible. >> Um, but yeah, it's going to be two picnic tables up there just for because I whenever I'm up there, obviously I play baseball, so I I I obviously noticed this. Um, there's always kids like waiting to get a ride and they're always just like standing out there. So, I was thinking maybe just adding picnic benches can be like a little like help with that. Um, but yeah, it's be to the left of the the entryway. >> This was like a good idea that the the signs you're going to make the signs. How how big are the signs going to be? >> Uh, yeah. So, on the >> All right. So, my the one near the road is going to be made
008out of metal. Uh actually all of them will be made out of metal but um it's going to be a plywood backing and then like a metal sign on it uh stating Kill Gallon and uh the ones near the entryway the two near the entryway stating West Milford baseball westford field hockey >> um the putting in uh that's a big project depending on how large of an area plan on doing >> that would require sand as well and things like that. >> Um my guess is it would be quite a bit more than what you have here in your budget. Um how big of an area do you want to put the P gravel or >> uh I think I have it in there I or maybe it's in my notes here. Uh it was
00921 ft by 20 ft is the >> so so a patio basically >> sorry 12 by 20 12 x 20. >> Okay. So a patio not a whole walkway you were talking >> Yeah. Yeah. No, ju just like to the side of Patty Bay. Yeah, I do understand that the papavers would be like a big budget increase, but I was just thinking for it would be easier where handicap. >> Yeah, >> but yeah, >> I don't have a question. And I just want to say this is awesome and thank you and um I feel like you've really hit on some of the biggest things. So being a baseball player, being down there every day, you know, um I did see some audience members too saying like, "Yeah, you know, so um this is really great
010and um good job. Um please just make sure that you email the board if there's like a but a way of funding and things cuz sometimes people like to donate." Um so if you have a I guess how are you doing that? Will you have a GoFundMe page? And >> yeah, so uh I'll have multiple like funding options if there's any uh like funny donations within my church. Um uh just the school uh my scout like if any donations would be amazing. Um, and then we we can also do like uh I want to say it like charities, but like uh there was an idea. Oh, fundraisers where um uh my baseball team or the field hockey team, they can uh do like a car wash or something just to bring up some more money.
011Um but yeah, maybe even a GoFundMe as like a little cherry on top, but I'm I'm not like relying on that. I'm mostly relying on like the fundraising within uh like in person fundraising. for you. This is great. Thank you. >> So, Colby, I know that you had the opportunity to meet with Mr. Stryens and I think Mr. Glenn also, our facilities director. How did that meeting go? >> Oh, it went it went perfect. Yeah. Uh, the pictures there was actually the pictures I presented >> uh to them and it was just a nice simple meeting in the office. Um, and we actually went down to the field and uh the facilities director, Mr. Glenn, he looked over everything seeing like, oh, this might not work. This might not work. But I mean everything seemed
012perfectly fine. The only issue was uh um when it snows plowing I don't want it to what he said that it might push into the seating area but that can just be simply fixed with like a couple like the orange >> post. Yeah. Okay. You know it was great that you took that initiative. So >> yeah. Thank you. It's >> fantastic. >> Oh yes. First off congratulations on getting to this step. It's uh very difficult and I've seen it time and time again where sometimes scouts get hung up on this step. So, keep it up. Uh couple of things I want to note with the which with each section in the proposal, there's an italicized statement next to it that just kind of gives you kind of a little bit of an example of what
013you would include in that section. If you could take a look at those things, it's going to help you flesh it out before it gets presented to council. And that's going to really allow you to kind of think about how you justify the project fundraising part of that. But other than that, this is a great idea and I look forward to it. All right. Thank you. Thank you. >> Yes. >> All right. Thanks so much. >> Thank you. Thank you. Any other questions? You guys want >> Okay. >> Uh, all right. So, next I'd like to invite our representative from student body to give her report. >> Hello. So, we've been really busy at the high school since the last board of ed meeting. Um, the leap year spirit winter pep rally and unified basketball
014game was held on February 29th, which was a great event for the entire Highlander community. Congrats to the unified basketball team for their incredible win. This was tied into spirit week with neon day, tie-dye day, comfy pajama day, black and gold day, and then wear orange day for the color of inclusion. There was another spirit week to celebrate International Women's Day where students wore comfy clothes, sportsware, pink and red for women's health, boss attire, and West Melford Women's Equality Empowerment Club gear. They also collected feminine hygiene products for women and girls in need. Freshman class officers were announced. Congrats to all who were elected. Student council is seeking acts for senior choice awards to be held in the spring. We need singers, dancers, magicians, comedians, bands, and just about any performer is welcome. Please see
015Miss Petraillo or Miss Laorray to sign up to perform. Interact hosted the annual Cinderella Project on Saturday, March 2nd. This feature gently used prom dresses at lower cost with 82 dresses being sold along with jewelry and hair accessories for a total of $848. This financially assisted students who have the opportunity to attend prom. This year's spring musical was Foot Loose. The drama based on the 1984 movie follows a teenage boy who moves from Chicago to the fictional town of Bumont, Utah. The musical went from Thursday, March 7th through Sunday, March 10th. The show also hit the records for ticket sales with almost every show being sold out. Trivia night was last Friday, March 15th, and was open to all students, staff, and community members. The event was a huge success with over 80 people attending.
016Congratulations to all the winners, and good luck next year. The annual all district arts festival will be held on March 27th. This event will feature the bands of all elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools along with the performance from the Highlander Pipes and Drums. Visual arts, photography, and wood shop students will be hosting an exhibit to feature their favorite pieces. The sculpture and culinary students will be joining together to present empty bowls fundraiser. The W the West Milford High School PTSO will be serving hot dogs, hot pretzels, snacks, and drinks. Come show your support for all involved. Junior prom will be held on March 28th. Tickets were on sale the last week of February. Hope you got them. National Honor Society eligibility letters went out to juniors seniors who meet the requirements requirements. Application
017materials are due by March 29th. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. And that concludes the superintendent report for the evening. >> Thank you, Dr. Fenari. Mr. Novak, your education report. Yes. Uh, good evening. >> Um, um, I have two items. The first I want to discuss is our, um, provide an update on our process for our kindergarten through fifth grade um, ELA replacement. and um lead into you know when I first put this on the agenda when we were doing agenda review last week um you know it was thought it was a good time to talk about the replacement process and that was prior to uh the knowledge that we were going to have a um hand carry motion for uh for discussion tonight. So, um that'll be part of uh of what I
018discussed tonight is how we how we got to the point of um looking at programs to um to review and then to why there's a motion here tonight that I um I did discuss with Lydia last week, Dr. Fenari last week and I made sure it was included in her uh weekly update. Um but I'll I'll be able to get into that and if um I'm going to do a lot of talking. I'm going to talk about a process that's been going on for um probably a good part of two years. So, if you have any questions, feel free to free to let me know. Uh so, this um I've been doing an awful lot of discussion uh over the last year about our math replacement. Um to provide a little background, you wouldn't typically
019replace completely replace a K5 math program in one year and then replace a K5 language arts program. in the the following year. Um that is a um I guess that's a symptom of the type of funding we're using to to replace these programs. So uh as you as you all aware we are uh using uh money from our stabilization grant to replace the programs that was uh when we filled out the grant last year that was for the use of replacing our uh math program. And this year when we filled out the grant, it was also down to to replace uh replace ELA. Uh as we know, these are one-time funds. These are significant costs potentially and are um with S2 and the things that we've been I guess dealing with for the last seven
020years, complete replacements are not um not something that we believe was going to be um locally locally budgeted anytime soon. Uh, so we've done a good job, I think, in in leveraging our one-time costs with the stabilization aid to um complete program replacements that in my opinion are are were long overdue. Uh, so I'm going to move away from the math because I've been talking about that for for months. Uh in the summer of uh 2022 when uh we experienced some um uh supervisory restructuring, I took on the role of uh K5 supervisor for um K5 director for all of our content areas. Uh, prior to that, uh, we had a single subject supervisor for, uh, all of our, um, uh, all of our programs, K12, oh, sorry, K12. That summer, I led the, uh,
021district literacy committee in a discussion about the, um, current program that we had in place, which was the uh, schoolwide uh, school schoolwide fundamentals of of reading and writing. Um at that time our district literacy committee had been the uh the group that we used to review programs. They are the group who helped us bring in phonics first which has been um you know tremendously successful. Uh we uh leaned on that group also to add the uh sadly um vocabulary program which is in grades three through five. So when we had we had a um program in schoolwide that we thought were was uh missing components over the years. So with the district literacy committee we've we worked we visited districts. So a lot of the same process that we completed as we were looking
022to review math curriculum we've done little by little over time with the district literacy committee. Uh so the summer of 2022 I led a discussion my first time working with that group um you know together. Uh we uh we spoke about program replacement and the desire of the district, not just the members of the literacy committee, but you know, they they talk in their departments, they talk in their grade levels. Um and there was an overwhelming um overwhelming concern at that time that they wanted to investigate program replacement. Um so I I still have the charts in my office. We you know, we were in the um library library conference room. uh you know the staff was you know writing all their their ideas their thoughts and what they wanted from the program replacement. So
023their goals at the time uh was that it was um you know comprehensive that had all the all the tools and all the all the resources that a teacher needed to um you know plan and and teach everything that we need to do in in English and language arts which we didn't believe um schoolwide our current program was doing for our staff. Uh we worked very hard. We had a literacy consultant over over years that was the um Shelley Klein Consulting who who came in and tried to help us um fill the gaps that we saw in that uh in that program uh with creating our own you know we we created a lot our our staff our teachers created our own handwriting program which you know if we could package and sell would probably
024be a revenue source that Mr. Schultz would would enjoy because our our staff did a tremendous job in creating our own handwriting program. Um and that was again with the work of the our um occupational therapists, our district literacy committee. Uh so we've pieced together uh what we had what we currently have. So the the uh pandemic no I wouldn't blame that for but I I have to because we did lose so many staff members during that time period. We hired um hired a lot of new staff. uh with the budget the way it was, we lost the services of um district literacy consultant who was helping us fill in uh fill in these gaps over time. And um we have a number of staff members now, probably half our staff in the elementary schools
025who were not initially trained through schoolwide, who were not here when we had our literacy consultant to help fill in those gaps. and we have a program that's not easy for a new teacher to use. We have a large number of new staff. We have, you know, a gap. So, that's what we talked about in that, like I said, that meeting in summer of 2022 was um how do we put a program in place that a new teacher or a teacher who's changing grade level, which we have so much of um you know, especially with, you know, restructuring last year. We have people who taught their careers in fifth grade and earn a different grade. um you know just people moving from position to position. So uh in order for us to move forward um
026we we talked about program management. So we spent last year you know math took precedent because because that's what we were doing. Um but I did start the groundwork with the district literacy committee last year about what a program replacement would look like in the following year if indeed we receive funding. Um Mr. Schultz uh did a great job with helping uh put together the stabilization uh grant which we were awarded and then we had the um you know we now we've had the now we have the the task of um moving forward and going ahead and replacing our program. So we've done all the work from that summer until now to put us in a position where we are ready to move forward and replace a pro program for next year. Um, beginning last
027spring, I started scheduling vendor presentations. Um, from, uh, I guess around, I believe it was our final the March, um, PD day last year was when we first saw our first program that was new. And then this year, we've we've seen uh, we've seen a total of seven uh, seven different programs. Our teachers have received sample materials. They've gotten uh curriculum, you know, sampled um teacher manuals, sample student text. They get online digital access for some of the tools that they can use. So, they've had a good time for this and this this whole school year and then part some programs last year uh to to try out some materials to um you know take a look at all the things that the programs have to offer. Um this this committee is uh very invested.
028Uh so when I bring a um when I bring a vendor in, it's like that uh Shark Tank um show with with all the you know all the questions that they have. I mean they're they're a very well- read group passionate about language arts and and what we do. Uh so they've done a really good job of of um you know looking at the programs that were vested about a month ago. Um, in uh along with our February professional development day, we started the process of talking about narrowing it down and and taking a look at tiering the programs that we've reviewed and, you know, seeing where we're at, if we're ready to to make a move and and discuss narrowing it down to our final three. So we did a um we did a
029vote. They tiered the programs, you know, one through one through seven, you know, what were their favorites, what were their least favorites. Uh we we did a survey that asked for their uh pros and cons for each and every program. Uh and I was I may have been a little um a little ambitious in what I asked them to do because it was uh it it had to take them an hour to fill out the survey. Um, I awarded a gift card for to a a staff member who who made me laugh the most with some of the comments uh in that they put in the survey. So, it was it was uh you know some just tremendous feedback from the staff and they put their heart and soul into it. So, we narrowed it
030down. Uh we I asked them to get give me a top three. the top two uh vote getters were so far away from the third and fourth place choices that we decided to narrow it down to to only two. Um I told them that those votes weren't binding. So we did have a uh we had a meeting last week where we um met to discuss the these programs. You know, it was like uh and I I joked with one of our one of the people on the committee who who works with the plays that was like 12 angry jurors with committee getting together and um you know hashing it out and and fighting over the programs and we actually did a we did a good job with the third place winner. We actually brought them
031back to the discussion just to make sure that we were we were right on on our taring for what the second program would be and what the third program would be. Uh so at the end of that day we we landed on the fact that we wanted to remain with our top two that that we arrived at from voting and uh we discussed a process for what we wanted to do going forward. One of the sources of feedback that I took from the math committee last year when we did the math replacement is that uh you know after after we we completed the process I gave them a little uh exit survey you know if we could have done you know I thought we did a great job um you know with with what we
032did uh but it was you know if we could have done something different uh what would we do differently and that will help inform language arts committee this year and the feedback from that math committee was that we didn't we didn't commit to a pilot process. Um so we piloted um we had we had sample materials. Um teachers used all the different resources from all the different math programs in their classrooms whether it was replacing a twodigit by twodigit multiplication activity with you know the same topic but from a different company you know. So that's how they were they were kind of naturally embedding these resources into um into their classroom practice. So they tried out materials that they have, but we didn't do a we didn't do a real structured pilot where a vendor
033came in and trained our staff on how to use it dayto-day in the classroom with the lesson planning and that sort of thing. We just tried it out. We did visit districts. We talked to teachers who used it. We did we did a good job. That was the piece that uh we thought we were missing. So that was what we discussed last week about wanting to do a structured pilot. Um part of the process and you know Mr. Schultz is always in my ear when I'm meeting with vendors getting um you know getting them to share our um resources and and you know come in and meet with our staff. I ask them for a program quote and how much would it cost? We want to do a complete replacement. Now what's it going to
034cost us? Uh in those discussions I also included what would it cost for a uh program pilot. Um some programs uh cost money for a pilot and some programs are free for a pilot. Uh one of the two programs that we selected um I thought was free. Um, and then after I reached back out to the vendor to talk about it, the free part of the process, the free pilot would have included one staff member at grade level per district. So, I would have been able to give one first grade teacher, one kindergarten teacher, one second, third, fourth, and fifth, and a special education teacher access to a full pilot for free. But only those people. uh my committee alone is is uh total it's 20 and I have Dr. Schwarz and and some of
035my um administrative team Mr. uh Mr. came like um you know I have administrators on the team um but the teaching staff on it is 16 alone and free pilot wouldn't even cover my committee um we thought it was also in our best interests to um again feedback from the math committee was that the math committee did everything the math committee shared out with their colleagues at grade level meetings and faculty meetings but we didn't give access to anyone who was outside of that committee. So, I uh talked with our our committee about expanding the pilot beyond just the people who were on that committee and I put out a interest survey and I had 30 staff members who volunteered to be part of the pilot. And um I mean that that's that's a phenomenal
036um number cuz it you know they're volunteering their time after school. They're volunteering to you know relearn something entirely. Um you know and that uh and I I thought that was great and I wanted to I wanted to validate him for that. I didn't accept everybody who volunteered for the pilot because we are going to do two tiers. Um, magnetic is the program pilot that we're going to start or we want to start right away. Uh, we have a total of about um, including our committee, I took a I took half of the people who volunteered. So, we've got about 29 um, total staff members who want to pilot the magnetic reading program from curriculum associates um, initially. the other 15 volunteers. Um I I would like them to be able to pilot the second
037program which is a program called a program called Wonders. And that is a free that's truly a free pilot. So uh it's Wonders. It's called Wonders. It's from McGra Hill. Um and that program pilot is uh is free. the materials that we get. As far as I know, I'm you know, I've I've been asking all the questions and I haven't um I haven't been in uh I haven't been engaged in a conversation where I suspect there'd be costs. The wonders pilot um so the magnetic pilot is um you know is a proposed cost. the, you know, the committee's invested. Uh, both of these, both of these programs are, you know, we're very close with their, you know, we're their top two choices. Um, with this pilot, the uh materials we receive are ours to keep.
038So, it comes with and so the things I'm about to describe to you, if you're not sharp uh sharper for ELA programs, the majority of the things that we get in the pilot are materials that you can use with any language arts program. Decodable texts for grades uh kindergarten through two. Um leveled readers for grades 3 through 5. um phonics um phonics workbooks that happen because you know Curriculum Associates is also the parent company of of I Ready. Um so the materials that we would receive in this pilot if uh if we don't choose this program going forward the materials we receive in the pilot would still be a valuable resource for the things that we're doing you know small group instruction to to break out of ready etc. If we choose this program, the
039money we spend on the pilot comes off of the final bill for the uh for the magnetic program. So, um well, you could ask me that 20 minutes ago, >> but I could have cut it I could have cut it short. Um, >> oh yeah. So, so that if we the pilot um comes off of that, there's a part of the um so part of this pilot cost uh will come from stabilization aid. Uh the other part of the program costs will come from our ESSER funds which were the uh area that was designated for learning acceleration as practice on grade level um you know on grade level teaching and the training for magnetic is closely related to the things that we do in Ire already that um I feel very comfortable that it's it's
040going to be money to spend if it ends up being like I said if it ends up being the program of choice then it deducts from the the end cost of the program. So I know uh you know hand carries fourletter word often. Um but you know I didn't have uh I didn't have that uh information prior to ed committee prior to personnel when talk about it. I did talk to um you know I spoke to Lydia as soon as I found out that it was going to be um you know more cost you know more than free. Um and I uh and I spoke to Lydia. I spoke to I spoke to Mr. Schultz to um talk about the best way. If we do if we don't go ahead with the hand carry motion
041tonight, then uh the pilot pilot process the way we've envisioned it won't happen and I'd have to do pre-pilot which would allow one staff member per grade level across the districts. not even one staff member per school would be one grade level across the one person across the district. Um that and again that doesn't even cover my um that doesn't even cover my we're excited. Um, first of all, awesome that you've had so many staff members that want to do this. I'm so excited that they're that invested. Um, time is obviously of the essence, right? If we want to implement this in September, are the pilots going to run concurrently? >> Uh, no. So, right now, our proposal is that the uh, so let's say hopefully the uh, carry passes tonight. I take a picture.
042I sign the PO in my office. I take a picture and send it. And he fish sips in the morning. We should have all materials in hand on um Monday or Tuesday. He provided um they provided digital access to resources that our teachers are able to play. So we did a training on yesterday. We trained the pilot group. I had I had um you know 32 staff members uh um with with administrators at the actual school yesterday or day to train the pilot group uh on on how to on how to step right in. Um so the proposal for magnetic so I answer your question shortly. No, they won't be concurrent. They pardon that's confusing. Um the digital the district the district literacy committee will pilot both programs the um additional staff members who volunteered
043to be pilot participants. Group A is going to pilot magnetic and then group B is going to pilot wonders. Uh the proposed time frame will begin on Monday, March 25th and bring us to the Friday before spring break for the magnetic pilot. And in that time period, because I'm going to have a separate group of participants, I'm going to train for the Wonders pilot in the week leading up to spring break so that we can begin the Wonders pilot um on the Monday after spring break and why it might be that might be April 29th, I believe. And then that will take us to uh the um because we have we do have NJS there. kind of account for that week. Um so that would take us to the May uh May 12th around uh
044time period um leading up to the May 21st board meeting. So it's my intention to have a program voted on and ready to bring to you um for committees the week prior to the May 21st uh board meeting. So hopefully that um if we get uh an approval and we have a consensus on the on an appropriate program, you'll be able to vote on it on May 21st. I'll be able to sign the purchase order May 22nd and teachers will have um teachers will have their materials, their teachers manuals before they leave for the end of uh end of June. Uh, one of the things also that that we we talked about last year, feedback from that committee, um, was that we trained we did the admissions training on that first PD day in September.
045Um, and you know, that wasn't that wasn't the best process. So, um I'm looking at a day in June to um to train with whatever program that we have, put my district literacy committee together to prepare, you know, some some, you know, do a lot of the some of the grunt work for, you know, the rest of the staff to, you know, for for unpacking and recommendations for, you know, cuz when you get a new program, you get a lot of you need a lot of things. see a lot of bells and whistles and you know to get to the I guess the nuts and bolts of the process, the summer committee is going to um do a lot of that work so that on our first PD day in September rather than sticking them
046all in high school cafeteria for a day to get all this information they'll have that day to go on their classroom to set up for the implementation of a new program and the second year of math program is also um I think it's a good process for for staff. is a good process for kids. Uh if I can keep that if I can keep that time. >> It looks like you're talking 3 weeks for one program and two weeks for the other for the pilot zero month. >> It should be uh it should be about 3 weeks each. >> Three weeks each. >> Um my question is that will >> so let me clarify. So that um group A who you know so the the program participants who who are not in the district literacy
047committee they can go beyond >> so they're going to get the materials. So I've already talked I have some you know there's some unknowns in the in the discussion because we have to get their feedback as we go. If they completely fall in love with this program uh I may let that pilot group finish the year with it. Um, same thing with the same thing with the wonder if um and many of us believe that these two programs are far head and shoulders above the current program that we have. So, if we're bringing in a better program that better meet state standards, then by all means, if they want to continue with that process, we're going to let them do that. >> Right? Because they're both they're both um standard based. They're big they both
048you know address um you know preparation for engine and all the things that we do on the back side of it we do have and that's one of the things that I was excited about having pirating in place that kind of keeps us safe with always working towards state standards and working towards filling in learning gaps. part of the process that they completed yesterday which is ongoing this week um that they are looking at sculpted sequence of all the programs to properly identify a starting point for the pilot so they're not just jumping in in a strange place so that it'll be natural for the students progression and it'll replace content standards and activities that they would have been using in our current program anyway so uh it should be seamless in nature um it
049is my um you know my plan again if the pilot is here to go ahead that I'm going to write a letter to all K5 um families and let them know that we are moving forward with a pilot and I'm going to prepare a individual letter for each grade level each classroom that is having a pilot. So, we'll let all K5 families know that we're doing a pilot and then the classroom students, families are going to know that they're they're getting, you know, they're going to get a little bit of a different um process. So, we'll have all of that. Uh and we're going to use and we're going to use that feedback from families. So, um you know, surveys and and information from families about what they see with the program, compare and contrast
050those um those types of I have one more question. Um, are you going to have a plan for the PZ and how because you're saying you want to do the date after school or there you going to have a plan for education committee so that they know what kind of time frame everybody's on for training because that >> so it depend it depends on um calendar >> you know so if there's changes to the calendar you know I have a I have a I have a date in mind already um that I'll be talking to the association leadership just to make sure that um you know these plans are Um, >> but we'll get a plan so that we know >> and I can I can actually um with Dr. F and I can discuss
051and she can put that plan in here Friday update. >> Yep. >> I have a question. Is the PD cost included in the program? Like if we were to purchase MS, is it part of it? >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Right. So the um the total cost of the program includes the professional developer the the professional development that is in the pilot. >> Mhm. >> Um can also is also part of the big picture. >> So that um you know so it kind of leads into if if it's a program that we that we >> I have another question. I was doing a little more research on this when I when I read the hand carry and I was um I looked at a sample of the lesson and downloaded it and it looks fantastic.
052But I have one question about the magnetic reading program. It said that it serves as a component to a core reading program. >> Right. >> So is the core reading program the 3 to five part of this? Okay. And the Kon 2 is like the phonics for fluency. >> Right. >> Okay. Thank you. That's what I need to clarify. Thanks. >> Just like you. So we did a we did a full group training yesterday. >> Uh the future the trainings that we're planning going forward and um touch point training um with the program participants is going to be the first week of April. Um so they were trained yesterday to get started. Um so they'll be there next week and then within two weeks of use they're going to meet again and then we're going
053to break them into K2 groups and 35 groups so they can be a little more targeted and specific. Thank you. >> And I guess just >> so the warning is going to be 429 through around about 512. You said May 12, >> right? >> Okay. >> That would be Phil, like I said, right now it's open-ended because I think Becky may want to continue um for I'm taking for the decision process for voting and bringing it to bringing it to the board. That's the time frame I'm looking at. So they the district literacy committee which I didn't mention yet they're going to pile. So they're more locked into this three weeks and three weeks. Yeah. >> You know they're going to be more on the fast 5 years. They're going to help interview um they're
054going to help interview the other program participants and compare and contrast and then ultimately help uh help make the decision for which which program. >> Okay. And then you'll have that uh meeting in as a group prior to the board meeting in May. Yes. So you could change. >> Yeah, I can bring um I can bring kits um at a future board meeting for you all to kind of get your hands on. Kind of like I can when I brought the the Nancy should finders, the cocker match binders. >> Um I can bring I can bring magnetic and wonders kits. uh >> or even just definitely bring the one that you choose. >> Thank you. Thank you. All right. Other other topic. Uh I want to bring um the board's attention to a um little
055more of a serious discussion with the um legal one training that we began in the district yesterday. Um we have we've talked about it in in committees and at the board level about the district's response to uh suicide prevention training. uh our teachers each year uh use you know global compliance network. There's a module that they you know they're required to do. It's an hour long. It's a it's a lengthy process but it's um it's not as indepth and it's not as um targeted as the training that we are engaging in now. So, Legal One, which works through NJPSA, New Jersey Principal Supervisor Association, um they they have partnered with uh the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, and they they created a module that's specific for educators, and that module is called signs matter, early
056detection. Um, our staff are going to um complete this this 2-hour module between now and the uh and the end of the school year. And that is um as a precursor to the in-person training that they're going to receive in the fall, which is through the um Rucker Center for Behavioral Health. They come in, they do an hour and a half training, and that our our staff will will begin the school year with that next year. It'll either be uh I haven't worked out next next year yet. Uh it's either going to be September or our early dismissal PD in October where we have uh where we have this uh intense training. Um when I when I emailed um this message to staff about what we were doing um I referred to so many of
057the the research um you know research points that we've been receiving about um postpandemic learning and you know some of the the the trends that we're seeing in terms of um self harm, suicidal ideation and all those types of things. I know uh locally we've we've um you know our counselors are are very are very busy. Um so in a time like the present to um to bring this in our staff began with it yesterday. We had a few um you know I guess technology glitches um you know when you have everybody using their laptop at the same time the same website and go doesn't always just go little bit of buffering kinds of things. Um um so you know everyone creates their own login. They work at their own pace. They're going to have
058time afforded to them. We had time at the professional professional development day yesterday. And then we are going to afford time at all of our uh faculty meetings and department meetings for the remainder of the year to be able to you know work on it as they go. Um our staff will complete this process for June 30th and I have enough licenses for um class A's and Dr. Uh Russa and I are discussing um how we will train our aids uh in the fall so that they're ready for that inerson um in person training as well. And then I'll also have enough licenses for um your staff. >> Um tell me what is this for? >> Sorry. >> What grade is this for? >> This is everyone. >> Thank you. >> All certified staff >>
059nurses counselors everyone. Yeah. full certified staff and our classics. >> All right. I found it very thorough. Um I thought there were great examples given in the training as well. Um it's very focused on compliance and also as well. So it's a great uh it's great training. I thought it was very and um one of the things that I sent out is that you know we do have a um there's a mandatory requirement for the state of New Jersey. Um, and I said directly to the messages of the staff that this isn't although it checks the box, it's not about checking the box. So, uh, that's why we're that's why we're investing in this um, in the process and we were able to use fun. >> Okay, that good. Thank you. Uh, Mr. Special reports
060on correspondence. >> So we have the minutes for the February 20th budget regular meeting and the February 20th executive session meeting. >> I got a motion. >> I move the February 20th budget regular meeting and executive session meeting minutes. >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> I. Any opposed? >> Are we moving just the 20th or we moving all together? >> Just the 20th. all individual. So any motion? >> I'd like to move the February 21st special meeting and executive session meeting minutes. >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> I any opposed? I >> Okay. Motion February 22nd. I move February 22nd special meeting minutes. >> Second. >> All those in favor. >> Any opposed? I say thank you. That was so good. >> I think it should be a little easier from
061now on. Thank you so much for suggestion. >> Thank you, Mr. Schultz. Okay, the president's report. So, just a couple of I just wanted to give a big shout out to everyone that was involved with Foot Loose. Wow, what an amazing performance. I mean, again, year after year, I'm blown away with what our high school puts out and what they're every year, it just seems to get better. Um, and I know that it was well attended, um, as our representative uh, from the high school said. And, um, again, an amazing performance. So, congratulations and great job. And I also just want to plug the Mining Play that is coming next month. Uh, James and the Giant Peach. Tickets are on sale. So, go out and get those tickets. Those are the kids that are coming
062up. So, it's good to see them in their middle school. uh careers before you get to see them in their high school. So, um another uh thing I wanted to bring up was um the Eagle Scout that came on January 30th, Aiden Simbre. Um he got part of his um scout uh project done. Uh the Maple Road walkway to Sack has been finished and is being used and looks amazing. U Mr. came reported on um his Facebook page. I saw the post so I just wanted to plug him. Um he still has part part of it to finish which I think he'll be coming very soon. I was going to tell everyone about the empty bowls which I know we already heard but I just want to plug it again. It's a fundraiser and any
063money that um is made on that night it goes to the local food banks. So, I love that they're um combining it on the art festival night. Hopefully, it'll be uh a little more attended than it has in the past and it all goes to a good cause. And then just one other update. Um a notification went out today for a special meeting next week, March 28th at 700 p.m. at the Makafe Cafeteria, and that will be um the new superintendent will be on the agenda for that meeting. Um so uh he will be there. So anyone that would like to come and read him um and we will be voting on that new appointment and that concludes my report and then we'll go to public comments. All speakers will have 5 minutes to speak
064until a period of 30 minutes transpires. Before speaking, please state your name, group affiliation, and address for the record. Members of the public who were requested to speak prior to 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 the statement within the agenda regarding the regulations concerning public comments. And the officials, anyone signed up? >> Yes. Courtney Stevenson. >> Courtney Stevenson, 307 Rich Road, Bessport, New Jersey. I stand before you today with a sense of optimism and enthusiasm as you discuss the proposal for a pilot English language arts program for the
065upcoming school year. It is truly heartening to see initiatives aimed at enhancing the educational experience for our students taking shape within our district. As we look ahead at the 2024 2025 school year where new English language arts standards loom on the horizon, it becomes increasingly imperative that our community experiences as many pilot programs as possible. This ensures that we are well prepared for the challenges for the changes ahead and can make informed decisions about the direction of our ELA curriculum. In this regard, I commend the leadership demonstrated by our director of education in choosing to partner with Curriculum Associates for this pilot program. Curriculum Associates as the publishing company for I Ready, the standardized test preparation tool currently being utilized in West Milford, offer seamless integration that facilitates alignment within our educational framework. I urge
066each of you to consider the importance of passing this pilot program tonight. As trustees, you bear fiduciary responsibility to your community, but you also have a moral duty to our educators, children, and parents. Allowing our administration the opportunity to pilot this program now is not just prudent, it's critical. With only three and a half short months remaining in the school year, initiating the pilot will afford our teachers, students, and parents valuable time to immerse themselves in the new curriculum, explore its resources, and engage in meaningful discussions. Moreover, it will ensure better alignment with the existing I Ready program, provide students with academic rigor essential to their growth, and offer parents a firsthand glimpse into the educational journey of their children. We cannot afford to delay this decision. Time is of the essence. A yes vote
067tonight is imperative to kickstart the pilot program. Most pilots only run for 3 months and with the end of the school year fast approaching, we must act swiftly to seize this opportunity. I am hopeful for your support tonight and optimistic about the pro prospect of witnessing more pilot programs taking place in our township. Embracing change is essential for progress and as community members, we place our trust in you to be the catalyst for positive transformation. This is where it begins. The seeds of change that will cultivate a greater future for our students and our community. Let us embrace this opportunity wholeheartedly and pave the way for excellence in education. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mrs. Stevenson. Anyone else wishing to speak? Okay. >> To close public comments. >> Second. >> All those in favor? I
068>> any opposed? Okay. Any changes to the agenda? I Yes, there are two changes. board members. So if you turn page number to page number eight um motion number 16, if you look just below motion 16, you'll see motions 14 and 15 uh concerning the distinctive scholars night and the community scholarship night. Um motion number 16 is going to be modified um as we are hoping to approve Mr. Jordan as the videographer not only of the community scholarship but also the distinguished scholar site. >> Yeah. >> Right. So we we did notice it but um just after the after the agenda was already released to the board. So for this motion, it's going to read um in total recommendation of the intro superintendent to approve Jose Jordan for 2024 community scholar night on May 23rd,
0692024 and the 2024 distinguished scholar night on April 18th, 2024 at the hourly rate same hourly rate of $37. Um, and then so it's the rest of it reads the same as it did below, but it didn't insert that segment. We wanted to make sure that that was included. The only other change I have is from Mr. Schulz. It's on page 11 and it is for motion number one under operations and finance. If you look at the account number under that uh first motion the uh number if you see about the center of it I'll read the whole number to you that 6 is in the center should be 610 610. So the number will read 11-190-00-610- 10-12-0000 and those are the only two changes I have. >> Thank you Dr. I have a motion
070to adopt the agenda as presented. >> I make a motion to adopt the agenda as presented with the two changes. All those in favor? Any opposed? Okay. Miss Dwight is not here today, so I'm going to ask Mrs. Jurgensson if you can um take over education, please. Sure. >> Okay. I'd like to move, sorry, I'd like to move items one through Can I include the one through nine under education? >> Second. >> Any discussion? Yes, I have a question down number five. The um track and field I it says here that there's going to be the the two I see there's two two gentlemen that are on here and then for the girls I see the one woman. Is there going to be anything other females going on this trip? because it's a two the
071two-day trip. >> Okay. So, we'll be a motion, >> right? But it's a two-day trip and we're 12. I don't know how it says 8 to 12 students are gone. That's quite a whole girl. I don't know. Maybe I'm questioning something that I shouldn't, but I'm thinking backwards. I'm just thinking backwards. That's all. So, I was just curious. I understand why there's two men, but I think prior there was no email at all. Um, >> correct. >> Yeah. >> On the prior trip that was so when you spoke to it in the past, but this one does have female chaperon for the >> Okay. I mean is there any standard to there is a female chaperone going on the trip so >> Mrs. Yeah. >> Okay. Anyone else? So I know Dr. Para, you just
072wanted to give a little um backstory to number one. >> Yes. So, um we understand that the April board meeting is at the end of the month and rather than leave, um the community and the school's history wondering what we're going to do in case we have any income weather days left over, how that's going to be treated. Um the committee thought it would be a good idea to include language um at the bottom of both this year's calendar and next year's calendar appropriated dates uh that kind of explains how that's going to look and I'm going to just read that to you now so that that people will understand why we're voting again on this calendar. Um the notation at the end comes in three parts and it says number one 187 days for
073students 191 days for staff. Number two, six emergency closing closing days are included. Unused emergency closing days will be given back to shorten the school year starting with June 25th, 2024. If more than the allotted emergency closing dates are needed, early dismissal dates will be added to the end of the school year. Um, number three reads, "If emergency closing dates are not used by April 5th, 2024, they will be applied in the following order. June 25th, June 24th, June 21st, June 20th, and June 19th, and finally, June 18th. Now, as we know, we've already used two of the six days during this school year. So, the four remaining days then would be applied to the end of the school year. We don't use any. Of course, this morning I saw snowflakes on my way into
074work, so I was getting a little nervous. So, but um in this way, we hope to give families the opportunity, both our staff and our parents opportunity to plan ahead. Uh and we know that we have four days left unused at the moment and if that remains the same, then our end date will be just thank you Dr. Manari. Any other discussion? Okay. See non local police officials. Mr. >> J. >> Yes. >> Mr. Con? >> Yes. >> Mr. Swoods. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Romeo. >> Yes. >> Mr. Van Dyke. >> Yes. >> Mr. Libby. >> Yes. >> Mr. L. >> Yes. Uh, Mrs. Van Dyke. Personnel. I'd like to move items one through 29 which is three three motions I hear second. >> Okay. I know there's probably going to be some discussion on
075this but I just wanted to start it out and just recognize the one two three and four the retirees that are up here and just give um everyone the amount of years that they've been in this district. So Dr. 20 years. Um, Mrs. Baldini Doyle, I know it's Mrs. Baldini, but she's been here 29 years. Miss Perry, 23, and Miss Whitman, 25 years. You know, and uh, you never want to see retirees that have been in this district and given so much of their time, but you leave, but you also, they've put in their time and they deserve to enjoy their retirement. And I just want to thank you all for everything that you've done for this district and enjoy your free time. Anyone else wishing to say anything or discuss? I I I just
076I I reiterate what you said and I just I'm very sad to see Dr. go. Um he is for that just transformed our music program here and he will surely be missed our program is like number one and I think we did thank him. I do know that he's trained he's coming next and I'm very thankful for it but I I wish him well in his future. But I do remember when he first came and I have to say kudos to him because he's been he's been a real asset to our district and we're going along with the other three teachers which I feel you know we keep losing these good people but I guess everybody earns their way through soccer. So I wish well too. Thank you. >> And does surely have some shoes
077to follow. Yes. Anyone else discussion? Oh, great. I mean, um I don't know that that younger elementary teachers, but Miss Wine, you will be very much missed and thank you for everything that you've done. Um and Dr. Mlakin, man, my kids just getting into high school, so I was really disappointed. However, as an eighth grade parent, I did attend the theme announcement for next year's game and I was absolutely blown away. So, I know that he is leaving us in very good hands and I know that uh as committed as he is, he wouldn't leave us if we weren't in great hands. So, um the theme is amazing. You should check out the video on YouTube. It was so exciting and to hear the kids scream and it was just it was awesome. So band
078is really cool and uh I'm going to miss doctor and not have the opportunity to do band hair with them staff but um I'm very excited for all of them. So I do all that. Thank you. Anyone else? Uh I have seen on 20 and 21 and yes Mr. >> Yes. >> Mr. Jurgensson. >> Yes. >> Mr. Ric. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Romeo. >> Yes. >> Mr. Lippy. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Bwood. >> Yes. >> Uh Mr. Lipy of operations and finance. >> Operations and finance. I'd like to move for vote numbers one through seven. Second. >> Any discussion? >> I'll say thank you to Miss Christensen for their table and the basketball game for Highlander. That's awesome. Um, I've seen a lot of schools, even in a regular high school, the student center with
079games like that and Xboxes and um, and it's just something now to build community and have those things together rather than kids just always be on their device on their own to have those things that they can do together. Um, so thank you for those donations. That's very cool and exciting. and right seeing non roll case officials >> Mr. Ly >> yes >> Mr. >> yes >> Mr. Jurgensson >> yes >> Mr. Swoods >> yes >> Mrs. Romeo >> yes >> Mrs. Mighty >> yes. >> Miss >> yes to move motion number eight under operations and finance. >> Second discussion roll call please officials. >> Mr. Ly. >> Yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. >> Mr. Json. >> Yes. >> Mr. S. >> Yes. >> Mr. Romeo. >> Mr. Stand right. >> I stand right. >>
080Yes. >> Okay. Finishing up operation finance. I like to move number nine through number 12. >> Second. >> Any discussion? >> Okay. Roll call. Mr. Schultz. >> Mr. Liby. >> Yes. >> Mr. Okcon. >> Yes. >> Mr. Jensen. Yes, >> Mr. Silence. >> Yes, >> Mrs. Romeo. >> Yes, >> Mrs. Van Dyke. >> Yes, >> Mrs. L. >> Yes, >> Mr. Silence. Policy. >> Under policy, I'd like to move items 1 through 15. Second. >> Any discussion? >> Seeing none, roll call, please. >> Mr. S. Yes, >> Mrs. Jurgensson. >> Yes, >> Mr. Ran. >> Yes, >> Mrs. Romeo. >> Yes, >> Mrs. Van Dyke. >> Yes, >> Mr. Liby. >> Yes, >> Mr. L. >> Yes. >> Okay. Committee reports. Uh, Mrs. Magguire is not here for parks on rep. I don't think anyone
081else is attended. Correct. So, safety. Mrs. Ricardo. Um, I can't remember if I reported on the safety meeting last time, but we had a safety meeting. Um, >> yeah, I think I did. All right. No report. >> Mrs. So, I do have a superintendent round table. Right. Um we had a brief superintendent round table um led by Mr. Novak. Um the main topic of discussion was the new um math regrouping and math. Um, a lot of the members of the superintendent round table had questions regarding what that's actually going to look like, um, and how it's going to work, especially with students already existing in Macan. Um, so Mr. Novak was actually the perfect person to be there at the MBA because he had all the information. Um, and it does sound like it's going
082to be a fairly seamless transition for those kids. Um the only thing that we were looking to um get some more clarity on is there will be a cohort of eighth graders moving to the high school for geometry. Um and they just wanted to know a little bit more about the logistics of how that was going to work. Um, another hot topic was, um, with, you know, our budget coming out, they were asking if the 4:30 late bus could be reinstated. Um, and, uh, I think we were going to talk to Mr. Schultz to see what what that was um, what was feasible with that, but they also were questioning some of the late bus routes. Um, apparently there are some kids who live in Crescent Park and they're on the same bus as kids
083in Boston. So, it's like a lot of time on the bus and it just didn't seem to make sense to them at the moment. Um, so we're going to always check on the um the sanity of those routes. Um, otherwise it was a great meeting, well attended and thanks u Mr. Novac for leading it for us. Claire, can I come ask a question? Yeah. >> Um, would it be okay if we put Lee buses on as an agenda item for auctions and finance committees? >> Sure. >> Yeah. Have some questions and like to discuss this. >> Okay. If you have any questions, ask Mrs. Cal beforehand, too, so I get some information. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mrs. Ricardo. State County Schools Association. That was me and Mrs. Van Dyke um attended with
084me last week. It was the unsung hero awards. A great night um honoring all those students that often go um unnoticed. And of course, Michael McCclusky who was here for what two Yeah, two meetings ago. Don't seem like that long. Um was there uh received his award. It's just a wonderful night. It's my second year attending and I encourage anyone that wants to attend next year. It's just it it's just a great feeling to see all these students um uh you know get up and get these awards and to hear what they've accomplished and they would have really have gone unnoticed in their district. And um it's it's just a really wonderful night. The next meeting for Pic County is on May 29th and that would be the last meeting of this school year. Um,
085and that's it for say county school board. Unless you wanted to add anything, Mr. Pike. Um, and it was a great night. It was wonderful seeing and I it was very u moving hearing some of the the speeches that the counselors gave or the principal gave and why they chose the these students for that award. Um, also Mr. Novak and Mr. Shas were with us. It was and it was, you know, Michael's parents were there and we we definitely enjoyed the night and it was it definitely is worth being at. It's a nice recognition for some students who normally would not get that recognition. >> And Miss Lambert, yeah, she I believe she sent us all the video of the night. I encourage everyone to watch it. It really >> she did a wonderful job.
086Yeah, >> we are at the very end. It goes automatically. So, just to give you a heads up does go for a while and we're at the very end of that meeting. So, um but yeah, no, and yeah, Mrs. did a wonderful job on what she spoke of. Yeah. Okay, Mrs. Silus, um New Jersey school boys. >> Thank you. On March 20th from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Scoo, which is the conference app that NJSBA uses, there will be trainings for governance 2, governance 3, and governance 4. On Thursday, March 28th from 1 to 2 p.m., there's a webinar series that is entitled Revolutionize Learning: Step into the Era of Immersive Experiences. And also on April 11th from 1 to 2 pm, there's leveraging state and federal dollars to establish a long-term high impact tutoring
087program. So both those programs are on Thursday. And I imagine that most people are busy between 1 and 2 p.m. on Thursday, but those are available for viewing afterwards. And that's the NJBA report. And I'm just going to jump right into place if you don't mind. So, I don't really like to report on anything unless it's about to hit the governor's desk. But of note, was on the 14th of March, the Senate education committee heard testimony from invited guests across the spectrum of PK through 12th grade community. And it was a range of different school funding circumstances. And basically the importance of this is there is seemingly going to be a restructuring of the funding formula. Now if you recall my 20 minute diet trial from last year I did mention how long it took
088to get to the point of a funding formula which was short of almost three decades. So hopefully it doesn't take that long. I think that this will be more expeditious and hopefully uh more thoughtful in a judicial sense. So it could just become a new part of our law. I do applaud that the funding formula was fully funded for the first time in its history. Unfortunately, the impacts to us were not so uh good. So uh I'll keep you updated on that. So that's my report. >> Thank you. Mic technology oversight. >> This should be short here. Uh I know there was a meeting. I was not available for meeting and as part has no time she will share with me. >> Thank you. I think actually she did share that already unless it wasn't
089since then. >> It was the same day as >> unless there's a future. Uh so the township board of education joint committee um I don't think there's anything to report cuz we haven't had a meeting right so maybe we could follow up with them Mrs. Schul say it's been a while um the west municipal alliance Mrs. So I joined via Zoom and I had a little technical difficulty because it got cut off. It was like co PTSD for me. So um I can tell you that the pickle ball tournament is happening April 13th. There was a lot of discussion about the logistics of Scott's fund run and I don't have the date off the top of my head cuz I didn't write it down and I apologize but I will get to you um for
090the next meeting but it that will be happening again um and that's right pickle ball pickle ball or 13 don't forget and they always seem to have technical difficulties with their zoom for any or what but it was just like oh oh no zoom Yeah. Um, special education parent advisory committee. Uh, me and Miss Marqu did go to meeting last week on the 13th. Um, I'll just touch on some of the bullet points that was on the agenda. So, there was a great presentation given by um, our district BCBA uh, Miss Anull on behavioral management strategies. Um, great slides, great back and forth conversation with the parents. She did a wonderful job. Um, there was some discussion on the PD from February 20th and March 18th from Dr. Resbury gave an update on that. Um,
091the real time updates for the IEP. Um, spoke of the, uh, spoken reference to the West Milford School District week of inclusion. Um and the feedback from the uh parents in that room was amazing. They loved it as I think everyone did. I not heard nothing but wonderful things about that week. Um there was an update for some of the special education programs uh that are being looked at for the fall. Um the education foundation is requesting to visit on May 15th. Um, I believe that date may be looked at and possibly changed. Uh, it looks like there's a conflict. What a surprise. The end of the year there always seems to be conflict. So, that may not be the date of the next meeting that couldn't be changed. Resources were given to the parents
092and then Miss Babcock, the CPAC chairperson, had her agenda items. Um, there was some discussion about the sensory reading program. um ESY was discussed and dates were given the fence at PK um and Dr. Resza updated um them on that hopefully that will be coming prior to the new school year is the hope. So, um the stabilization aid was discussed uh that will be hopefully being used for that fence at PK. Um staff emails. Uh the NJ4S was discussed in more detail. Um there was discussion on transitioning and um IEPs and just uh and the brochure for the special programs I think which is in the works. Uh so it was a great meeting. Um, it was over 2 hours long. It was pretty long. It didn't seem that long though, which was nice. Um,
093and again, the uh May 15th, that date may have to change for the next few minutes. So, stay tuned for that date. And that concludes the CPAC. Um, so any old business? I I just wanted to mention that I was able to visit all the schools for reading across America. It was just wonderful. Um I got to go in at least two classrooms in every building and the welcoming the welcome that I got from the kids and from the staff was just wonderful in every building. And it felt so great to be back in the buildings again. and you could tell that the staff and the kids really enjoyed seeing guest readers come. So, um I'm hoping that I can go back again this school year yet, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. And if everybody,
094if any who ever got a chance to do it, it definitely is on the top of your list as a board member. When you sit there and you see, you get a really good firsthand look at what's going on in the classroom. and we have a lot we have a lot of good things happening in our buildings and I hope everybody gets a chance to see them. It it was a pleasure to be in the buildings. Thank you. I'd love to add that the students were incredibly big and I saw so much kindness to one another. Um, they were so well behaved. I I I've done it before and every single class I was in was just I told them I think you're the best students in the state of New Jersey. So I I
095I think we I think we have a lot to >> I'm going to add I enjoyed it as well. coming in and for me walking into a classroom all my 6'4 and pounding um they kind of look up like you know who is this guy but it was it was very enjoyable really high >> I will say I was asked for an autographed by Mrs. Rox class at >> I just got in my great >> any other old business. >> Okay. >> Move to close old business. >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? New business. Okay. M from you >> first. Um I was talking to Dr. Reza earlier um and Mr. Strings in about reading and one of the things that I presented um in one of the classrooms
096was an app called the Libby app and I just wanted to tell you all about it because what we do here is for education and for our students and what we talked about majority of tonight and what Mr. Novak talked about is our ELA program. So, the Libby app, Libby, um directly connects you to our Westford Township Library and you put in your library card and you can download right not onto anything an audio book. You can put on hold the books that they have at the library or you can also take them out and have them write on your quil immediately. Um, and I'll tell you the students in fourth grade were like, you know, oh my gosh, like that, you know, um, so I did it. It was just really cool. But also,
097I think everybody should know the resources and the things that we have. Um, and so I was able to play the first few minutes of my little book um, from that. They could hear it and see what it does and it's right here. You know, if you don't have a library card, it does. So, I just wanted to share that with all of you, too, because I saw Dr. easily look it up right away and um if you have a commute to work at all it's you can listen to books back and forth and it's wonderful. So wanted to share that. However, um I have two other new business items and they're really just thank yous because I don't know that we acknowledge enough the people that inform us and so I want to thank
098Mr. because um the principal of of Neal Road, I know honestly without ever talking to him in person more about what's going on at Neal Road than any other school in the district and I think every board member agrees with me and I appreciate that. I love knowing what they're wearing for inclusion piece and I love getting your emails and your newsletters and your updates and um you provide us you provide me with the most information and I think the board would agree in any other building and I really like just knowing being you know knowing what's happening in your building and oh that must be exciting for kids and thinking about it and seeing what you're doing. So thank you for sharing that with us always. >> See I thought it was just me
099getting this email but I don't have to laugh because every time my phone goes off at 9:00 I says Bill must be done. So I would laugh. But I totally agree with you because we I I I wish there was a way that we could get everything from all of the schools. I we we have if we get it and we choose not to look at it, that's fine. But it is great. I always think I'm getting it because I'm grandma. But now >> I'm just a croc over sheriff. >> I have no I will say on a Saturday I I get you know we get all of them and we can choose to get them sent to our phone as a text. Um magazines always read which is wonderful. >> So I I sometimes
100have to decipher who's writing. So are we talking neighbors or magn or assistant office. So it's nice when the principal puts right at the first one because if you are a parent that has kids in multiple buildings or if you are a board member you get those from different schools and so you sometimes have to be like all right wait this is Mr. King for sure or this is M. So it's good everyone always reads at the beginning M school and then the announcement. Yeah right. So um just to side you know the principles and administration you might not even know what we seek you know but thank you for that. And the second person that I want to thank um and I thought that before when someone brought her up about being at the
101unsung heroes is um the labor at high school. I am so grateful for the guardian newsletter. Um and if you have any high school students in your life or really anyone that wants to go to college that's still a student, you should be looking at her newsletter. There are scholarships all the time, not just for high school juniors and seniors, but your eighth graders, your freshmen. Sometimes there's essays that you can be writing and handing in. There's nothing more frustrating. And it's hard to understand for working in a guidance department for 24 years and when it's embarrassing when someone says, "Well, we only had two applications for your scholarship. I'm sorry." like here, you know, um we're not our students are not always applying even for the ones that have no essay, you know, but
102so thank you to Miss Lambert for sharing that later letter with us and for making it so great and whoever else in the guy's department is doing it. I just know we did an email from her. Um and it's really really good. It's tremendous. Yes. So, thank you. >> Thank you, Miss Romeo. Anyone else with new business? >> Close new business. >> All those in favor. >> Any opposed? >> And our second public comment. So all speakers all speakers will 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 meeting will be recognized by the chair first. After speaking, all speakers are asked to sign the register provided and
103give 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 in the agenda regarding the regulations concerning public comments. Members of the public are reminded that they are legally responsible and liable for their comments. Mr. Schultz, anyone signed up? >> No, there's not. >> Anyone wishing to speak? Okay, Miss Back. Yeah. >> Is it red? >> Three. Okay. >> Uh Caitlyn Bock 13 post place. I just had a comment about the calendar. So right now if we don't have any more days, it'll end on the 20th. >> Right. >> But the 19th the Okay. The 19th whichever. But right now the 19th is a full day. Yes. But the I
104know with our teachers contract the last three days have to be half days. >> So is that something considering putting that on the calendar just making that note that the last three days no matter what it is >> would be half days just for planning purposes and this isn't the only way that we're going to communicate whatever happens >> or whatever else. Yeah. There'll be messages that go out. >> Absolutely. >> Just something like in the future also like cuz it's if there are always going to be the last three days are always going to be half days because it's contracted. It might be something just for planning purposes for parents just to know like okay yeah we're moving up but those three days are also half days just so the parents know because it
105is a big jump. Y >> Thank you Mrs. Papock. Anyone else wishing to speak? Oh, Mr. Mr. >> I almost called your name. >> Uh, in case anybody doesn't know, my name is Nate Bedford or people call me Nate or the video guy here. um you're the one that usually does all the live streaming. I'm also involved with Wester 77 station here in town and I'm also involved with the friends Iron Works. I just wanted to make a little announcement that for the public and for the board that uh this is the 40th anniversary of the friends Iron Horse Iron Works is a state park located at Green Lake Turnpike in New Jersey is the birthplace and cradle of West Milford. Um, we are going to have our spring cleanup day on Saturday, March 30th
106at 10:00, uh, both in the museum and on site. And for anybody who is interested in helping to get the, uh, place ready for the season, which starts on Saturday, April 13th. And I also do Civil War reenacting. And that Civil War weekend is scheduled for uh, June 8th and 9th. But I will keep everybody posted on those. But I just want to come up here and make that announcement for Honor Stresser who is our president. And uh I think you all want to keep the history alive. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Anyone else wishing to speak? >> Move to close public comments. >> Second. >> All those in favor? I. >> Any opposed? Okay. So there is um no need for an executive session. >> Stop it. >> Do you want one? >>
107No, I don't even know how to do this now. >> All those in favor? Any opposed? And it's 8:36.