001I'd like to call the January 30th board of education meeting to order. We could take a moment of silence. Black and 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, a 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. Sidtowitz. Mrs.
002Dwire >> here. >> Mrs. Jurgensson >> here. >> Mr. Lippy, >> here. >> Mrs. Markwart >> here. >> Mrs. Romeo >> here. >> Mrs. Van Dyke >> here. >> Mrs. Rico >> here. >> Mrs. Lockwood >> here at this moment. Tara, Mrs. Roano, can you um uh motion for executive session? >> I move to approve the following resolution that the board immediately go into executive session for approximately 30 minutes for the purpose of conducting a grievance hearing. The executive session minutes will not be released until such time as the privilege or confidentiality is no longer applicable. >> Second. All those in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? Okay, we'll be back in approximately 30 minutes. Okay, thank you. >> Okay, >> I'd like to call the meeting back to order. Roll call, please. Mr. Schultz.
003>> Mrs. Markwart, >> here. >> Mr. Sidowitz, >> here. >> Mrs. Mr. Jurgensson >> here. >> Mrs. Dwire >> here. >> Mr. Lippy >> here. >> Mrs. Van Dyke. >> Mrs. Rakano >> here. >> Mrs. Romeo. >> Mrs. Lockwood >> here. At this time, Mrs. Roano, can you um make a motion to go back into executive session? I move um at 7:16 to return to executive session for the purpose of grievances for an additional 30 minutes. Second. >> All those in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? All right. We'll be back in about 30 minutes. Thank you. Welcome back. And Mr. Schultz, roll call, please. >> Mr. Sidowitz, >> here. >> Mrs. Dwire, >> here. >> Mrs. Jurgensson, >> here. >> Mr. Lippy, >> here. >> Mrs. Laughwood, >> here. >> Mrs. Markquart >> here.
004>> Mrs. Rico >> here. >> Mrs. Romeo >> here. >> Mrs. Van Dyke >> here. >> Thank you. Dr. Fenari, the interim superintendence report. Okay, good evening everyone and we're sorry for keeping those of you who have been waiting patiently waiting. Um we have a couple of things on the agenda tonight that are celebratory in nature and the first uh is um we'd like to offer some congratulations. I'd like to take this opportunity to recognize this year's recipient of the Payic County Unsung Heroes Award. This award goes to one 12th grade student at each high school in Pose County who make outstanding contributions to their schools and communities, but who are often overlooked by traditional recognition programs. Selection criteria may include students who have overcome difficult academic or personal challenges, model good citizenship, or exhibit
005a spirit and quiet strength that inspires others. This award is given to students who make their school districts better places and inspire others in the school community. As West Milford High School counselors and administrators discussed the candidates for this year's recipient, uh they brought out um one particular student who we're going to honor here this evening, Michael McCcluskey. Michael began his time in the West Milford Township Public Schools in special programming through elementary, middle, and high school. Michael has grown tremendously in academic achievements and personally. Michael is a student leader in every sense of the word. He is captain of several varsity teams and just won the Payic County Bowling Championship. He is described as a standout bowler and runner and excels in Special Olympics. At the high school's recent on-site admission day, Michael received
006acceptances to William Patterson University and Satan Hall University. He is our 2024 Paya County unsung hero. Michael and his parents have been invited to attend an award ceremony to be held in March of 2024. This evening, however, I'm proud to present Michael with a certificate of recognition from the West Milford Township Public Schools for his attaining this county level honor. Michael, please come up and accept your certificate and come to the table as I know the board members would like to congratulate you personally. down there. >> Mom, come on up. Get a picture of it. Congratulations. >> You're trying to embarrass me. Come on. Congratulations. >> Yeah. You want to stand right in the middle? Right between Mr. Lockwood and me. >> You want to get in there? >> All right. Congratulations. My 120 is
007okay. >> He was nice to me, by the way. >> It was >> okay. Um, next I'd like to invite Aiden McKimch up to the microphone to present his um proposal for an Eagle Scout um project at um Maple Road School. >> I noticed that Mr. Lippy as well. All right. is some work. Okay. >> All right. Hello. >> I can do that. All right. Hello everyone. Thanks for having me tonight. Uh my name is Aiden Simbrech. I'm from Troop 159 and I would like to propose my Eagle Scout project. Essentially what I'm planning to do is I'm going to make a new podium for Maple Road School for any activities after school like any after school activities anything like that. And what I'm also going to do is currently the after school program held
008in the media center. They had a door to the main walkway, but there's nothing there. It's just dirt. And obviously in winter times it gets muddy. It gets really bad. And my idea is I'm going to make a pathway going over that area with different stepping stones on it. But the entire idea is on those stepping stones, there's going to be different STEM quotes and engravings into the stones to try and get them intrigued in STEM because I personally go to DCL STEM. Maybe they find a new career path, something they're interested in. And so, yeah. All right, that's my idea. Any questions? >> Are you building the podium or is it a purchase? >> Um, I'm going to be building the podium. And just I know it's like winter time. We're not going to
009be digging anything. It's going to be all placed on top and and it's going to be rebarred in, so there's no digging required. Uh Aiden, could you tell us a little bit about the uh you know, you gave us um in the packet that you submitted, you gave us some diagrams and and things. Could you tell us how you came up with your concept drawings? Um, basically a couple weeks back I went to the place and you and through the help of some scout masters and me over there. Um, basically we came up with the idea is that we're going to build it using 2x4s on each side and we're going to use use gravel in the middle and then layer it all with uh with the stepping stones. That's very basic. There would be
010more to it obviously. Is that answer your question? All right. >> I have a question. Um, what materials are you using for stepping stones? Are you using, you know, slate? >> Um, >> gravel, papa. >> For the stepping stones, I believe they're going to be slate. >> And just so that the board is aware before, um, Mr. Schultz and our new um, facilities manager um, Mr. plan. We'll have already been reviewing the documents and we'll be, you know, working with Aiden to make sure that the project is is installed, you know, properly and well, and we're so appreciative. >> Sorry. >> And how are you going to pay for this? Are you going to ask for funds, uh, materials, fundraising? >> Basically, what I'm going to do is I'm going to start a GoFundMe. Normally
011with Scout, like Eagle Projects in this town, normally they got a lot of money, but also I'm looking at donations. I actually have a company already really intrigued in this and planning to donate a lot of the resources available. >> Oh, awesome. Awesome. Well, when you get that GoFundMe or anything uh set up, just make sure you know you include the district on that. >> Um Oh, sorry. Go ahead, Will. >> That's okay. Uh I don't know if you know me. I'm Mr. C of Troop 44 and I've been through a lot of these proposals before. So, pardon me if I I beat it up a little bit. I don't see any preliminary costs in in uh your project proposal. Do you have any breakdown of that? >> Um not of yet, I believe. >>
012And in terms of supplies, >> sorry. Um I do I just it's not on that doc. >> Okay. Right there. >> In terms of supplies, it Often times I have scouts that don't read the little blurb next to the section. Supplies are things you use up such as food, refreshment, gasoline, masking tape, tarp supplies, garbage bags. >> What are you going to do with all the garbage that you may have? >> Well, um, where we do meetings, there's a giant there's a dumpster there where we anyone can use it. So, that's probably we're just going to drive over there and just throw it out of there. >> Is there a section in here that should have that, you think? I mean, if you bring it up, probably. >> Good answer. >> Looks nice. >> Um,
013Aiden, I don't know if you realize this, but the Maple Road PTO president was sitting right behind you, so you might want to hit her up after this. >> Just one, when do you plan on starting? Um, I'm well, one thing I have to do is get it approved by the actual like scouting organization. But once that takes like one or two weeks once that's done, I plan on starting probably late this month, early next month cuz I need to get this done by March 31st or else it's over. >> I hope you have a good timeline that you're going to be busy. >> Yeah. >> Awesome job. Thank you. >> Thank you so much. >> And all kids, >> make sure they're listed on here with council. Okay. Um, how many other bear passes
014do you need? >> Um, I just need two more. >> Uh, family life. I'm actually going to get that done this weekend on Saturday. And then I need what is it in the community which I'm getting done like next month. >> This week in community. >> Yeah. sit here and watch we're meeting or go online and watch some >> I I already had it basically done honestly I do like the requirements. >> Well, good luck with it. Congratulations. >> Thank you. >> You're good. >> I'll thank you all so much. Thank you. >> Okay, we have no student representative with us this evening. So, that concludes the superintendent's report. Thank you, Dr. Fenuri. Uh, Mr. Novak, director of education report. >> Yeah, Aiden, great job. I usually take the grillings around here, so uh, you
015did a fantastic job. >> Um, so I have a, um, fun announcement that is not currently on the agenda. Um, we received information this week um or I'm sorry, last week that our um our high school uh computer science class received an award called the AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award. Uh the statement reads, "Congratulations. The West Milford Township High School has earned the College Board's AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award for expanding young women's access to AP Computer Science. Research shows that female students who take AP computer science are more likely to major in computer science in college compared with matched peers. Through your leadership and diversifying computer science education, you're preparing female students for the in- demand jobs of the future and giving them the opportunity to help some of society's most challenging
016problems. The West Milford High School is one of 225 schools nationwide to be honored in this capacity. I'd like to say a big thank you especially to um our high school computer science teachers um Ann Noi Chanza who I always uh pronounce that name differently. The students know her as Mrs. N uh and Kelly DS. They teach our courses AP computer science and AP computer science principles and I'm sure it's the uh strong female leadership in our department that that helps um push us forward and get this award. So congratulations to our high school, our math department and and you know our students who are participating in these courses. >> Could I just ask one question? Will there be something given to the two teachers that you're talking about? >> So there there is an
017official award document that um is coming to the school. So the school will be awarded but we also received um with an award like this you get an official u PDF that's there's a graphic that is that's copyrighted graphic that um we can place our teachers could place it on their you know on their profiles or you know on their you know when you go to our website and you can click on the teacher they they'll be they'll have rights to that. So, they'll get access to that copyrighted uh insignia and this school will receive a an official award that I can probably um bring here when we actually have it in hand. >> That would be great. And I think it would be wonderful if a letter is generated from the board uh acknowledging
018them. And also, if it could be put on the website, maybe there are pictures on the website, >> right? And that also with that insignia, we're allowed to um claim this award and put it and post it on our our social media and our and our website. That's a big deal for this district out of all of this country. Okay. So, I think it's really important. Thank you. >> And uh just a update on our progress for our second IR diagnostic which is well underway. Uh students began taking the uh second diagnostic on January 22nd. We will be completed by February 9th. Uh as of today, we've completed 75% of our reading diagnostics and 61% of our uh math diagnostics. Preliminary results have displayed substantial progress while revealing a pattern of achievement in regard to
019the individual individualized learning path. Students who are completing lessons, committing to the assignments on task are showing meaningful gains. Once the testing window has been closed, I ready will share district level performance data with us and also with linkit and then linkit will prepare uh the navigator reports that we often share. Um and I'm anticipating that that process should be complete in time for our education committee uh in February. Uh also, uh we're still in progress on this. I've turned on the uh four families report on our uh on our our site which would will give families the opportunity to log in through the student page, the student profile and see the results of the diagnostic as it's complete. Um, one of the it's currently on one of the problems we're having is that because
020we use class link and we have a single sign on process. The instructions that I prepared for me to share with the community says how to use the username and the password which our kids don't use the username and the password. So I'm just waiting for clarification from I Ready and how I can share that with the community and then that'll all be shared through uh school messenger. >> Yes. Dan, when does the window close for the diagnostic? >> February 9th. >> Thank you. >> So, we should be done. Um, we we afford a week for language arts, a week for math typically. Uh, teachers aren't um micromanaged as to when they fit that in. We give two weeks, you know, that's sort of how we we played it out. Two weeks for the two
021diagnostics. We afford the third week for students who are away, or sick, that that sort of thing. So, we have a makeup week. Uh I'm anticipating that most of it will be done by the end of this week. >> I do have a question then about the um the the uh training for the the staff that's going to be happening during our >> that's February Yeah. February 20th. >> Okay. That's our that's our PD day. >> Yeah. We have a uh we have a two-hour training with our our administrative team on February 5th. uh I coming in to work with our admin team on how to on how to view rep reports and and all the things that go along with that to take a look at the data from one diagnostic to the next
022how to manage the individualized learning path and then on February 20th our uh staff will be trained as well. So, >> and will they be doing like grade level train? How is that like broken? >> They break it into they they're going to do two trainings. They're going to come they'll they'll work with well actually they bring four trainers. Sorry. Two trainers, four sessions. So, I'll do well while K2 are being trained. Um, middle school ELA will be trained and then when 35 are being trained, middle school math will be trained. So, it's um little processed throughout the day. So, everyone will get a um two-hour training. >> So, this will help the staff to be able to now disseminate this information, right? so that we're moving forward with the goal of this. Uh yeah,
023the the goal of of this training is for uh our staff to take a look at uh diagnostic uh our beginning of the year diagnostic and the most recent diagnostic and see how our students grew and then uh also be able to um you know take a look at the results and compare that to like I just read you know the results that we're seeing preliminarily is that if those students completed the work that was assigned between the diagnostics that we're seeing uh we are seeing significant growth. >> So then the board is going to see the trend of where where are our weak area and the um the one piece that I'm excited for when we use linkit um what linkit should be able to do with i compare linkit results to what predictive
024data we have for how they should be performing on njsla. So that's what we should be getting from our um link navigator report that um that'll >> So we're going to be able to get some information, right? Okay. Thank you. >> And that concludes this morning. >> Thank you, Mr. Novc. Um special reports and correspondence, Mr. Schultz. >> Yeah, we had a busy month, a lot of meetings. Uh December 19th, I have the minutes for the workshop and regular meeting and also executive session. uh the minutes for the January 2nd, 2024 reorg meeting, uh the January 20th, 2024 special meeting minutes, and also the executive session meeting minutes for January 20th, 2024. >> I'll make a motion to uh set the minutes. >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> I. Any opposed? Okay. All
025right. The president's report. Um, I'm just going to give a quick update on the superintendent search committee. I know there was a question uh last week uh from a trustee in regards to the community involvement. So, I just wanted to update that I did speak with Miss Hela and um she uh wanted me to say that everything is being posted on the uh West Milford uh website. So, wtps.org. If you go to that website and you click on board of education, there's another drop-down from there uh for the superintendent search and all um updates for any meetings um and reports are on there. you can actually access uh the report that was given to the board showing how many candidates were um applied and what positions they held. Um so um and that's accessible through
026um the website and then if anybody ever has any questions you can always reach out to Miss Helawa. Uh but um the community involvement at this point um ended with um the input sessions and that she did both online and in person. Um of course we're doing first round of interviews this week. Um we have second round of interviews um the week of February 12th. Uh then we'll have a final round. Um hopefully we'll find a candidate that we'll be able to put forth to the board and uh once that person is on an agenda, the community is welcome to come out and speak at um a board meeting. And if you want to speak before then and you know you have anything you want to say, you can always come out to any of
027the meetings and speak on the second public comments which is um something that's not on the agenda. So I just wanted to update everybody on that. Um and then uh that would end my report. So we will go into public comments. So all speakers will have 5 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
028within 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. Schulz, did anyone sign up to speak? >> No, there wasn't. >> Uh, is there anyone that would like to speak? >> Move to close public comments. >> All those in favor. Any opposed? Uh Dr. Fenar, are there any um corrections to the agenda? >> Are sorry, there are no corrections. However, there are two hand carry um sheets, one under education and one under operations and finance. >> Thank you. Can I have a motion to adopt the agenda as presented? >> Move to adopt the agenda as presented. >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> Any opposed? Mrs. Dwa, education. >> I'd like to move items one through six education.
029>> Second >> discussion. >> Um, yeah. Um, Mrs. Romeo brought something to my attention that I'm curious about and that's number four. I also checked committee me meeting minutes and I didn't see anything about this. Um, can you explain that? Uh, Dr. >> Could I say something prior to that? Would you mind? >> No, go ahead. >> Um, I'd like to make a motion to table number four until after we have a committee meeting to discuss it because it's not in committee meetings. It was not on last month's um, and I feel like it needs some committee meeting time. Um, so I'd like to ask to table it. I'm making a motion to table it. And just to be clear, I'd like to table it from this meeting alto together. Not not for after exec.
030You don't want to talk about it in exec. You just want >> some committee meeting discussion. >> Can we do >> that's what that's my request. Yes. >> And is that something we can do? It's not going to affect >> I just wanted to just double check with Dr. Russa about um the schools. >> Yeah. the uh the schools. This is regarding an organization that's providing uh social uh skill groups uh at no cost to the district. Um schools that would like to participate uh would have these uh or this organization would be board approved to come help facilitate those groups. Uh by tableabling it and waiting to another agenda would just mean that the uh the schools in question that would like to have this organization come in would have to wait until after
031the approval of the board. Um, so I would have to communicate that to the staff and to the administration about that. >> I I think the concern was not so because it is a great idea, but I think the concern was that we didn't know anything about it until now and and we should have had this for our last education committee meeting. >> So understood. >> Thank you. >> Did Did you still want to know a little >> That's not my concerns. I'd like to discuss my concerns in committee. Um, and I don't think that it would be appropriate for me to share them here. So, I'm asking if it could be taped. >> Um, I think that that would be best for everyone. >> Okay. >> Thanks. Okay. So, I need a motion. Um
032and vote just a voice vote or a roll call. >> A roll call vote on the motion to table um motion number four under education. >> Okay. Uh Mr. Sidowitz, >> yes. >> Mrs. Dwire, >> no. >> Mrs. Jurgensson, >> yes. >> Mr. Lippy, >> yes. >> Mrs. Lockwood. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Markwart, >> yes. >> Mrs. Rakano, >> yes. >> Mrs. Romeo, >> yes. >> Mrs. Van Dyke, >> no. >> Okay. So, number four pass. Okay. So back to discussion on one through six um without number four anyone >> seeing none uh roll call please >> Mrs. Dwire >> yes >> Mrs. Jurgensson >> yes >> Mrs. Rico >> yes >> Mr. Sidowitz >> yes >> Mrs. Mrs. Romeo, >> yes. >> Mrs. Van Dyke, >> yes. >> Mr. Limpy, >> yes. >> Mrs.
033Markwart, >> yes. >> Mrs. Lockwood, >> yes. >> Okay. I I'd like to make a motion to approve hand carry items number seven and eight. >> Second. >> Any discussion? Yes, Mr. Romeo. >> Yeah. Um, can we talk about number seven specifically? Um, where Northern Regional is like are they in our buildings? What exactly um is this grant for? Like what are they doing? >> Number seven. >> Yes. So, regarding number seven, um Northern Regional Educ Northern Regional Educational Service Commission provides us with uh social workers that help support the programs that we have in our district, including our uh our ERRI programs and the uh the special education program. And so, we've been fortunate through uh having their support this year to help support our programs. Uh we've had uh a social worker from
034that program providing services at the beginning of the year. Uh and fortunately uh due to um a um uh expansion of the uh the grant uh funding, we're able to provide additional services for these programs and having the uh the uh educational services commission provide us another day of services through the social workers that provide again counseling um social emotional support uh group therapy for our students in these programs. So, we're very excited to be able to have this additional funding through the uh the grants that are provided to us and add an additional day of of uh of services to the additional 3 days that we have. >> That was going to be my next question. Thank you, Dr. Resza. So, 3 days. >> Correct. >> Now, this is adding one more day. So,
035it's one employee. >> So, it's one person who was giving three days for now move to four days. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. I'd like I'd just like to say thank you because we need all the support we can get and this is wonderful that that you were able to do that. >> So, thank you. >> Well, I want to also acknowledge and appreciate the support of uh district administration and um um Mr. Schultz as well for working with him and and getting the grant funds together to be able to do this um middle to minimal to no cost of the district. >> We need we need that support and I'm glad that you're doing it. So, thank you very much. >> You're welcome. >> I have one other question. um the mental health
036grant. I mean, is that money that we could be used um to hire someone also or it's just not it's just for services like through commissions and >> Oh, so well I'll jump in. So um typically when we have grant funding especially if it's a grant that is going to go away after a period of time we try not to hire permanent staff through that because um it becomes difficult to ensure that in future years when that grant funding is gone that we would be able to continue those services. So this is part of that um the esser grant and I know Mr. Novak manages this grant along with Mr. Schulz. So, you know, they have um they've been very particular and careful about considering things that we know um are items that are not
037going to be permanent staff and then we would end up cutting staff because we don't have the the funding. So, having somebody from the commission come in to provide those services was really the best use of those funds. >> Yeah, the total mental health grant was 45,000. So this is if it goes over the 45 then we'll subsidize it with the normal operating budget. >> Mhm. >> Okay. >> Anyone else? >> Okay. Seeing none. Roll call, please. Mr. Schultz. >> Mrs. Dwire. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Jurgensson. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Rakano. >> Yes. >> Mr. Sidowitz. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Romeo. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Van Dyke. >> Yes. >> Mr. Lippy. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Markwart. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Lockwood. >> Yes. Okay. Personnel, Mrs. Van Djk. >> Yes. I'd like to move
038items 1 through 31 under personnel. >> Second. >> Any discussion? Okay, seeing none. Roll call, please. Mr. Schulz. >> Mrs. Van Dyke. >> Yes. >> Mr. Sidowitz. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Jurgensson. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Rakano. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Romeo. >> Recuse number 24. Yes. On everything else. >> Mr. Philippy. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Dwire. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Markwart. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Lockwood. >> Yes. >> Operations and finance. Mr. Lippy. >> Like to move operations finances number one to number two. >> I think one. Yeah. Second. >> Any discussion? Roll call, please. Mr. Schultz. Mr. Lippy, >> yes. >> Mrs. Rakano, >> yes. >> Mrs. Jurgensson, >> yes. >> Mrs. Dwire, >> yes. >> Mr. Sidowitz, >> yes. >> Mrs. Romeo, >> yes. And a thank you. >> Mrs. Markwart, >> yes.
039>> Mrs. Van Dyke, >> yes. And I wanted to say thank you, too. That's very generous. I'm sorry I misspent thing. >> And Mrs. Lockwood. >> Yes. Finance. I'd like to do number two. >> Second. >> Nobody wants a pay. >> Any discussion? >> Seeing none. Roll call, please. Mr. Schultz. >> Mr. Limpy. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Rakano. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Jurgensson. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Dwire. >> Yes. >> Mr. Sidowitz. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Romeo. You work >> Mrs. Markwartain. >> Mrs. Van Djk. >> I abstain. >> And Mrs. Lockwood. >> Yes. >> I I don't believe I don't I don't think recuse is the right way to go. That's why I chose that abstension. I don't know. >> I think recusing is if if if the person that you >> that your
040thing is if the person that you can't vote because why you can't vote is on the motion, I would recuse myself. But I think the payroll is a contractual thing. I think we've had this discussion with our attorney before and although it's new, I still feel that an abstension is >> All right. Mr. Schultz, could you please change my payroll to obscene the first time? >> You don't have to, but I just >> I mean I thought that's what I learned in training last week. I'm only I'm I >> you don't have to change forward but there was no discussion. >> You move on that. >> Okay, >> Mr. Lippy. >> Let's continue with our motions. >> Okay, operation finance number three through number six. >> Second. >> Any discussion? >> Seeing none. Roll call,
041please. Mr. Schulz. >> Uh Mr. Lippy. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Rakano. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Jurgensson. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Dwire. >> Yes. >> Mr. Sidowitz. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Romeo. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Markwart. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Van Dyke. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Lockwood. >> Yes. >> Operations of finance on hand carry number two. I'd like to move >> number seven. Second. >> Any discussion? Seeing none. Roll call, please. Mr. Schultz. >> Mr. Limpy. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Rakano. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Jurgensson. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Dwire. >> Yes. >> Mr. Sidowitz. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Romeo. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Markwart. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Van Djk. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Lockwood. >> Yes. >> Okay. Policy. Mr. Sowitz, >> I move resolution one under policy. >> Second. >> Any discussion?
042>> Me? >> Yes, Mr. Romeo. >> Me. >> Um, two things that I have. The first is I would like the committee to consider adding a leazison for the HF, the Highlander Education Foundation. I think that would be nice to have um the updates just an idea. Um, and the second thing I wanted to say is that I thought a lot about um my comments two meetings ago about um a special education committee. However, I would never call it that. Um, it really should be called a support services committee aside from the education committee where all support services are presented to the board. Um, not just child study team matters, not just special education matters, but matters of um our health nurses, all support services. Um, I do have quite a bit of research that
043I've done. I didn't print it, but I can before the next policy committee meeting if you guys would like to see. Um, I did discuss it with Claire, went through each district. Um, and literally, you can do the same research that I did. I Googled board of ed committees in the state of New Jersey and went through over 60 districts to see who has a special education committee and who does not. The first two that come up are New Jersey school boards has a special education committee called that. The second one that comes up is the state of New Jersey or government uh out of the commissioner's office. they have a special education committee. Um, however, most board of educations call it something different. Um, it's not called Some do have special education committee, but
044not many. Um, so I I did look it up. I spent quite a bit of time. If anyone's interested, I can share that with you. Um, or you can look it up yourself. Um but I do think I still think that it would be important to move those topics to a different meeting. Um so hopefully that'll be discussed in policy and also in liaison. Those are my two things. Thank you. >> Um I would move to put both on to the policy agenda um for committees next month so we can discuss uh the liaison for the um HC. I know that's been discussed in the past >> here, right? I feel like we've said here at meetings in the past that you would >> Yeah, >> I know. I didn't talk about it like it
045might have been talked about, but I went to their first meeting and thought, "Oh, I'm glad I'm here." Uh, someone should be reporting back to the board what is discussed here. Um, it's just like our other meetings, but this one's specifically looking for grants for our school. So we should know what they're you know what's happening there. The first meeting by the way was very brief. >> Yes, Mr. Sowitz. >> So this the policy that we're voting on now and the change is really a structural matter because policy currently is an ad hoc committee when in fact we treat it like a standing committee. So for the purposes of the first and second reading that I'm hoping we approve and move along with that that sticks around. In terms of changing committees, I don't know
046if it's more prudent to bring it up and try to hurry along with changing things versus waiting 6 months and experimenting with things because we can at any time have ad hoc committees and if we find it's too cumbersome or if it's if it's unnecessary then we can just stop doing it as opposed to restructuring. ing the bylaw and then saying further on down the line, well, we don't agree with what we thought two months ago. So, I think that, you know, anything brought into any committee is worth discussing, but for the purposes of tonight, I just hope that we vote yes and not delay a small issue. >> Well, this is for the first read, right? So, this will come back. Yeah, >> but if we structurally if we structurally change something and add
047committees and do all this, it's a new first reading because you change the entire bylaw. >> Well, what I'm saying is we could have the discussion in committees on what is what was brought up tonight by Kate um by Mrs. Romeo, sorry. Um you know, just start the discussion of you know, potentially had in the liaison. Not saying that we shouldn't not vote on this as it's presented tonight cuz it's only a first reading. So, um it doesn't sound like anybody has any objections to what's being presented tonight. It sounds like Mrs. Romeo would just like to have more discussions about potentially adding a liaison and a support services that she said that she has done research on and can bring. So, um I mean I feel like it should go back to committee for
048discussion and not be discussed um in conjunction with what's being presented tonight. >> So the school of thought and you know Mr. Sidwoods, I know you you as I you know, we're students of policy and um so the the reason that we do have first and second readings is because of something exactly like this. You know, we have a first reading, the board um has the opportunity to hear what the committee is recommending and often in those discussions, new things arise. So, you know, even if we went to second reading for this individual policy change, moving the policy committee to the correct um section of the the bylaw, um it doesn't mean that at a future meeting we couldn't have another first reading on the policy should the board feel as though it needs a
049change. So, um I think we're safe if if we consider the policy for first reading as we're presenting it this evening and then see where that discussion brings us in the future. So I hope that kind of it doesn't close the door on the discussion is what I'm saying. >> I think what we have here is we have two two different discussions going on. One is the policy as we're reading it. >> Right. >> And the second one which is a >> completely different discussion is for other policy changes down the road. Correct. >> Right. So we're voting on the policy as it was written first time the first reading. >> Correct. >> Yes. Which is why I suggested putting it on committee for next month with the two new points that um Mrs. Romeo
050brought up. >> Well, and to be fair, it's not the one of them is not a new I guess they're both not new points. Um, and I was kind of disappointed I will say in the policy notes from committee because this was brought up discussed quite a bit discussed at CPAC meeting but not in notes from um committee meeting. >> It wasn't on the agenda for the committee meetings. >> Okay. So the only thing that was discussed was changing what is being presented tonight which is the policy. >> Okay. >> Going on to the um nothing else was discussed in committees >> as as with anything on the committees. We all have the option to email the chairperson and Lydia and ask for something to be added to the agenda. So if it's something if
051it's an item that you would like to have added, it really is two separate discussions. Just like Peter said, I think you have the option of bringing it, you know, emailing Will and asking him to put it on his committee, right? I have to email you after this and ask you to put this on or Claire's asking because I thought I asked this at the last meeting. But if that's how we're going to do things moving forward, um I'll start emailing everybody. But when I say something publicly and then we have a huge discussion about it, it's my assumption then that it would be discussed, you know. So I really did think it would be discussed in committee as it was quite a discussion, >> right? You could be out of this. That's all. >>
052The reflection. >> Yes, Mr. Simons. >> Really the reflection from last meeting was there were a lot of thoughts about how to change how we see our committees and adding and taking away and renaming. And by the end of it, I gathered that we were experimenting. So, if we have a new ad hoc committee, then uh let's do it. Let's add a new ad hoc committee and see where that goes. Instead of trying to alter a bylaw, I think we could start as early as next meeting to next regular meeting to have a new ad hoc committee that reports and discusses and deliberates. So I was under the impression that I guess what we would do would uh instead of splitting um which was you know the big discussion um change in the night to
053a different night uh to give more time for the committee for the um education committee so that we would have enough time to be able to uh discuss both education and special education without being honed to an end time when the next committee started. I thought that was what we were going to try first and see if um that um would give us the opportunity to be able to have the discussions with no time limit. Um because the you know education is first um and although it is 90 minutes sometimes it can be a a a pretty long committee with a lot of discussion and we do tend to be rushed at the end. we do have to end at a certain time at that 90 minutes because we have four committee meetings that night.
054So to make it fair to the other committee members, we do pretty much try and hold to the time that we, you know, end and start the next committee and they do roll over into each. So I I was under the impression that that was what we were going to try first. Um any Yes, Mr. Lip. >> Kate, please excuse me. Mr. Please uh correct me if I'm wrong, but you're you're not talking about moving the special education out of education. You're talking about setting up a a different well whether it be ad hoc or permanent committee or something like that to speak about special services districtwide, right? Keeping education in education. >> Yeah. Education includes every single student in the whole district. And special services would include the or support services or whatever we
055would call it other would include every single student in the district because you would be talking about all these things on the agenda that have to do with mental health. all the programs. Um this, you know, um all kinds of different things, you know, the guidance department, the nursing department, the um school counselors, you know, and it would also encompass special, you know, um >> CST. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> So again, I >> none of those things ever get discussed in committee because we never have time. So again, I think it would be pertinent to add it to the policy um agenda for next month so that we could discuss more what that would entail and what other districts are doing. I I guess my misunderstanding here is what would the policy committee accomplish by
056having it on their committee when you're trying to accomplish the discussion of the special services? Wouldn't you try to do that in education and essentially splitting that meeting while you're in education? >> This is where I think this so I I I'm not aware of the support services. We have discussed it. Um I don't really know what it encompasses. So maybe looking into it more and discussing it in committee um of what that encompasses, what a support services committee would encompass, I think would maybe um be pertinent to see if that's something we would want to move forward. I mean I really don't know what you know services would be included in that and what other districts do. So, >> and that doesn't mean to say that we should do it as a as a
057district, obviously, but I think doing the research to see um and discussing it, >> but wouldn't you want to try to practice that in what you're trying to accomplish? Why wouldn't you do that in education? Because we're just we're going to talk about it in policy and we're going to say that's a great idea, education. Why don't you do it? >> Yeah. No, I completely agree. I I moving education to another night I assumed would be the first step to see and then this is you know I the shared services yes Kate has brought it out we had a discussion after the last meeting that about the >> quite honestly if we had had a meeting maybe things like what need what I tabled tonight number four could have been discussed my questions on number
058seven like there's a lot of things that are not So in policy, all you're going to accomplish is we're going to say, well, yeah, you could do that in education or the splintered version of education. So why don't you try it out in education >> for the >> for February and report back to the policy committee how it went. >> I'm not going to turn down this first reading, will >> no I don't think that has any >> I think you know I think this is just getting very confusing. Maybe again discussing in committees what exactly is a support services committee I think would probably be the next step because I think there's confusion from everyone what that is. Yes, Mrs. Van Dyke. I I guess my question is Kate, do you want another committee
059created? And that would if it is a new committee, then that would make it go to policy to see if because we have to change our policy if we add a a standing committee. Is that correct? I I >> So something like that doesn't originate in policy and I think that's what we were just talking about, right? So if the discussion is going to happen in committee or in some other form whether it happens out in public or or it happens in individual committees um whether the board wants to move in that direction and then it comes it would come to policy if that's the case it would come to policy to make those adjustments but making the adjustment in policy isn't going to afford us the kind of conversation that I think everybody is
060talking about. So, which committee would it go in? Education. It sounds like it's it's more than education. It sounds >> sounds like it's personnel. >> Yeah, sounds like it's personnel. So, I on that >> I mean some of the items that you're talking about are talked are are discussed in each of those committees. >> I mean, the nurses have been discussed in personnel. They have been discussed in in education depending on what we need. I mean, you know, you'll come forward. I mean during COVID the nurses were a big topic of conversation in both personnel and education. So I I I honestly I I kind of feel like Will is exactly right. It's a matter of discussion in those committees and bringing bringing whatever the information's forward. Maybe the lack of um things winding on
061the agenda. Maybe that could be more of a administrative thing where you you're bringing more information to those committees, you know. >> Can you repeat that last part? I didn't hear you. >> I I think I think it's a matter of the administration, Lydia and Dan bringing forth and Derek bringing forth into the education committee the type of information that you're looking for and having it having it uh reflect in the minutes better. So, one of the things that we talked about internally is making sure that as we do in in personnel, for example, we go over the personnel items that we have ready by the time we have our committee meeting and doing the same kind of thing in other committees so that you're actually as committees looking at your section of the agenda
062in addition to the things that we bring to committee. So, I think that's something that we can easily fix. >> We talked before as chairperson and personnel. Lydia and I discuss anybody that sends something or whatever, we talk about what's on the agenda. I also feel that and on some of our committees, we probably should have a a running um like update on the bottom because there's items that we don't always uh we say we want to bring it back up and it's not there and it gets forgotten. So there should be, you know, I I know that you do it in operations and finance. So maybe it's more of changing how our our minutes are reflecting and the agendas are reflecting for the committee minutes. >> Okay. So maybe it'll be discussion in every
063committee forward. Okay. Any other discussion on agenda item one under policy as it's written? Okay, seeing none. Roll call, please. Mr. Schultz. >> Mr. Sidowitz, >> yes. >> Mrs. Jurgensson, >> yes. >> Mrs. Dwire, >> yes. >> Mrs. Rico, >> yes. >> Mrs. Romeo, >> yes. >> Mrs. Van Djk, >> yes. >> Mrs. Markwart, >> yes. >> Mr. Lippy, >> yes. >> Mrs. Lockwood, >> yes. >> Sorry. Uh, committee reports and liaison, parks and recreation. Mrs. Dwire. >> Oh, okay. Well, um I attended the meeting last month, um right after our board meeting. What what a nice group of people, really, really engaged in the community and had a lot of nice things to say about the school board or not the school board, the school district. Um the township committee, the township enjoyed the
064uh lighting ceremony, the Christmas tree on December 4th. Um they're having a discussion on how to even make it better. They appreciated the fact that the band and qu uh concert choir played holiday music and the residents all enjoyed their hot cocoa and ice sculpting carving. Um I was very impressed with this. There's registration that's now open for the animal tracks program where families can discover the difference between various animal furs, tracks, trails, and homes they leave behind. The tracker will bring various animal furs and be helping um the participants discover the difference between different animal tracks, trails, and homes. And that's on Saturday, February 17th. Um I thought it was interesting. I thought a lot of kids in our district might be interested in that. There is a problem with um the wreck basketball.
065There's 328 kids participating and there's 137 kids participating in travel basketball and they lack a gym and the gym they're lacking is Westbrook and the reason for that is because we don't have a janitor. Um I did tell them we were short staffed but I just feel bad for them. Um Casa is working on a pickle ball tournament. It's called >> my report. >> Paddle what? >> Sorry. >> Paddles for prevention. They're shooting for April 13th. Um there are they are in the process of obtess of obtaining quotes for pen fencing behind the goal at Legacy Field uh to stop the balls from going into the woods. This we should be very appreciative of because we share that fields with the township and the wreck department does maintain that field for us. So, we're thankful
066for that. Um there's uh the township and the board of education had conducted interviews with four companies for the feasibility study of the Hill Crest building. A final decision was made and the company chosen was was ENV and ENV has already contacted the township with inquiries about Hillrest and that property. Um the township has also hired a grant writer called Bruno Associates and right now they're helping the different town uh departments in the township with um different things. For example, there's a mutual agreement with with uh I guess Mr. Kelly made it. They're looking into um Diggo Field into improving it with turf and lights. And that again is to our benefit. Um and Mrs. Lockwood, I do have to call Mrs. Mr. Cojackie. I'm sorry. I forgot to do it. Okay. Um, and finally,
067um, finally, May 11th, there will be an Elks beef steak to benefit Recre Park and Rex. That's my report. >> May 11th. Can't wait for that beef steak. Thank you, Mrs. Dwa. Safety. Mrs. Rakano and Mrs. Dwa. Um, we have our first meeting of 2024 on February 22nd. >> Thank you. Superintendent round table, Mrs. Ricondo and Mrs. Van Djk. Um, in our meeting last month, uh, we talked about kindergarten registration. Um it opened on January 16th and there are numerous ways to um register your child for kindergarten and get that information. There is a banner on the website. Um there's an infographic at the bottom of the website. Dr. Fernari is looking to get an announcement in the messenger and um Mr. Novak also relayed the information to all of the township preschools and the
068Highlands Family Success Center. Um something really exciting that's in the works, um we're looking to put book vending machines in all of the elementary schools, um as a um reward for children in the schools. Um we're still um trying to work out logistics on how they'll be funded and filled. Um but I think it's a really cool idea um and like a fun way for kids to earn prizes. Um and for I've been a part of SRT since before I sat on the board and for the very first time um Dr. Fernari explained to everyone how she put how a superintendent puts together the budget which I thought was a um great way for um our stakeholders to understand that it's not arbitrary and a lot of thought um is put into it. And um
069the one thing that Dr. Fernari has been uh hammering home is um touched the classroom last which I think is um a relief um to a lot of people in the district. Um what else did we talk about? Um there was an issue with the 8th grade um high school scheduling night for parents. there was very little notice. We talked about it last week. Um so I think it, you know, these parents brought this up again as an issue. So I really think we need to look at this um year at a glance calendar and make sure that we are um inputting all of these important dates and getting the information out timely. Um and um we are working on um a media center volunteers program called Library Lovers. Um each school is going to
070have volunteers uh working in the library. Um they'll be fingerprinted and background checked. Um and we even talked about possibly having um friends of the library um come and and do it as well. Um, that concludes my report. >> Am I allowed to make a comment? >> Thank you. Okay, Mrs. Romeo, >> two comments. One, um, books. Love that. I'm might you might I will want to ask what happened to all the books that were boxed from Westbrook. Can they be used? >> New books. They have like a new paper, right, >> Mr. Novc? They have to be paperback, right? There was like some >> there was a a certain size and fit that would fit and and the also the our staff p like threw the Westbrook books pretty uh pretty carefully. Um I
071think the things that were left there were were titles that they didn't think were enticing to our students. So one of the um uh I guess main goals of this initiative is that it's you know it's going to build literacy. it's going to raise excitement about reading and you know the excitement of of winning a book through through this uh literacy process. Um so I don't know if the you know the leftover books from >> okay that process fit into >> yeah not even just fitting. I don't think it's you know u we've been trying we've been shopping those books around to anyone who would take them and no one's taking them. Um maybe more information could be sent to the whole board on what this exactly is um >> in >> terms of the
072book the leftover books or the >> no um the um the book vending. Oh okay. So, in case um you missed it, I did put that in not in my last update, but the update before um I gave you a little bit of an update. Basically, what we discussed with the SRT, but also in there there was a link that takes you to the actual company that we're looking at for the vending machine. >> Um they're called Inchi, I believe, Mr. Novak. And um so that's something that and the idea, you know, it's a very grassroots idea. it grew out of um one of our schools principal's budget review. Um he came with the idea and then it kind of spread to the potential for the all of the elementaryaries. So um you know very
073much um an initiative that we hope will uh really as Mr. Novak said excite our students about reading and um and it all grew out of our elementary. So >> I do. >> Yeah. No, >> another cool thing about the machines is that they can be branded. We've been talking about rebranding our district and um now that all of our elementary schools are black and gold um we can start there and have um the machines be black and gold UGL black and gold Marshall Hill black and gold Maple Road and you know so on so that you know we can start there maybe as we you know delve further. I I did have an idea since we're talking about this. I was wondering if we could do like a sponsorship for for the books for
074the different schools. like if maybe there's a business in town or something that maybe would like to, you know, it's it's a little co it's not extremely costly because it's going to be costly upfront, but in restocking the machines, but I was thinking that maybe we could get the community to buy in a little bit to help with the cost of the books for the um vending machine. I mean, I see that we bought them as well, the or that we're we're we're allocating for that, >> right? The potential. So, you know, I I think that, you know, maybe if we get it out, there might be people who want to sponsor it >> because it's going to have to be kind of, you know, >> I've seen teachers put that online. I've sponsored multiple
075books. I'm sure like very similar idea from our district where teachers will say, "I'm giving every this has happened in our district in the past. Teachers will post, I'm putting I'm giving every child four books this year, one like a marking period. Would you like to sponsor a child?" And then you've got >> I don't want them to lose their their >> I'm just saying we've done that and I've seen that here. >> You know, um >> a lot of the teachers have wish lists that they have on Amazon and things like that. >> My second comment um was I think uh about the media, the libraries, >> uh I think it would be a really good idea. Also, you know, we have the heroes and cool kids program and they go into the schools
076and um our honor societies at the high school and at Makipin both get community service hours. That might be a really cool service project. Um if you want to ask them, I mean, um that might be a cool service project for them to spend every Wednesday an hour in a at the Marshall Hill Library or at the PK library or wherever and do some of that work. Also, um I know high school kids really like to help out at the elementary schools. Um and that's fun for them and they need the hours anyway, so they're often looking for projects like that. >> Okay, thank you. Uh New Jersey School Boards Associate. Uh oh, sorry, I skipped over myself. Look at that. Beta County School Boards Association. That would be me. There's actually a meeting uh
077February 1st that I could not attend. It's fully virtual, not in person and it's the topic is special education and advocacy topics. So if anyone would like to >> I plan on doing anyway. >> I'm going to log on. >> Thank you. Thank you. That would be great if someone could. Um New Jersey School Boards Association, Mr. Sitz. >> Thank you. I think everybody who is new on the board has completed governance one. Is that correct? >> Yes. >> Well, if you haven't on Saturday on Saturday the 3rd of February, Governance One will be held in person. You can find that information online. I don't have the location available because I assume that everybody was done. So, my apologies. We know what we say about people who assume So also on February 3rd on the
078platform Swugo is governance 2 and governance for training. So that's a virtual training. On Friday, February 23rd to Sunday, February 25th is new board member orientation weekend, which I highly, highly, highly recommend. It's really engaging and for anybody who is a new board member, it really edifies your role on the board and teaches you things that you may or may not have known before coming into the role. Uh, and tomorrow there is an online webinar entitled the board's role in the annual budget. It's at 10:00 a.m. So, I imagine most of us are working. However, once those webinars are done, they are available to watch at any time and I would be more than happy to share that link once uh the webinar is done tomorrow. That's the schoolboard association report followed by Mr. Sidwood
079legislative. Here I am again. So I I think that this is a better legislative is kind of better known as government relations because you kind of deal with all sorts of things. You have the DOE, you have the executive offices, the legislature. Just food for thought for when we do discuss changing names of committees. But on that note, on the 9th of January, the governor had his state of the state address and addressed topics such as universal prek, teacher shortage, increasing literacy rates, and something that I think is ridiculous, calling on the legislature to send a voting rights bill that would allow 16 and 17 year olds the ability to vote in local schoolboard elections. I did not garner their vote with that statement, but I stand by it. So, uh, in terms of what
080was passed, the legislature ended their session on January 8th, and a bunch of things got passed. I'm not going to go through everything, but the big things that are going to become uh mandatory instruction is grief instruction is going to be required by the state board of education to adopt and districts to implement into the New Jersey student learning standards pertaining to grief in the comprehensive health and physical education content area at its next required update of the standards. Another requirement is a FAFSA graduation requirement that requires students to complete financial aid applications as part of high school graduation. And there were quite a bit of uh legislative signatures for Hold on, I lost that thought. the bulk of what was passed was based on addressing the teacher shortage crisis that we are having. So
081kudos to to that effort. And that is my legislative report. >> Any comments, questions or jokes? >> Technology oversight. Mr. Lipe and Mrs. Marquad. >> Thank you for February 20th, we have our meeting. That's all we have. First meeting of the year. >> Exciting. >> The township board of education joint committee >> technology. I'm not on that, but I want to plug that parents can still pay the $25 for the laptop um what is it called? Thank you. Insurance. Like I I think that a lot of people still don't know about that. Um >> I agree. >> And you do you agree, right? >> I agree. I don't think that >> and so any child that >> Okay. Uh our kids that have their Chromebooks, we can still pay $25 for the insurance so that
082if your child breaks their Chromebook, it will get fixed. If your child loses their Chromebook or breaks their Chromebook, it could cost hundreds of dollars. But if it's insured, will not. So, um I think that that's an important thing to know and I'm going to plug it as many times because >> I am I still haven't paid my $25. I'm doing it tomorrow. >> Yeah, me either. >> Okay. So, >> yeah, none of us >> township. Well, it's not mandatory. You don't have to pay it. Yeah. >> Yeah. So, it's it's extra insurance for you do not have to do it. >> And last year, we only had a handful of them under 10. I would love to know how many we have this year that have purchased it. >> You didn't even know that
083we had it. >> Had a few more. A few more this year. >> I do remember a notification going out I think via messenger um >> recently. Yeah, >> we've been discussing it more and more and it's a good idea to buy it. >> Yes. And I think there was a date like that's already passed, right? >> Yeah, you can't I did check. You can still purchase it. >> Okay. >> But you can't purch I'm sorry, but you can't purchase it if your kid's computer's broken today. You can't purchase the insurance and have that coverage. But if you haven't bought the insurance and your kid's computer is still working perfectly today, you can still buy it. Is that correct? >> You know, >> I I know that that's correct because if I checked with Winston
084on my way in, so he's weaving to tell you. >> Okay. I only know that a notification did a notification did go out. >> so a notification. >> Yeah, we still >> Oh, we we finished. Sorry. So, a notification did go out to the families with a link that had a date that has already passed that expired. So, if that if we aren't being held to that, maybe another notification needs to go out saying that you can still buy. >> We'll update the >> township board of education joint committee. Um, we have not had a meet in since the last um time we met. So, um, West Milford Municipal Alliance, Mrs. Van Djk and Mrs. Jurgensson. Um, the West Milford Alliance met on, uh, Monday, January 8th. Um, it was discussed the Paddles for Prevention
085pickle ball tournament, which is scheduled for April 13, Saturday, April 13th at the West Milford Rec Center. Um there was a grant submitted into for the uh Atlantic Health grant for Sidekicks which is a program that is similar to our heroes and cool kids but for the eighth grade eighth graders. Um Mrs. O'Brien is working with Mrs. Garish on the on programs to be funded through uh that grant. In addition, we have in um we have S uh Sergeant Stephen Herszog uh came on and told us about they're going to have a junior police academy this year and uh that will be take be taking place between July 29th and August 2nd. Um they are just finalizing the academy as uh to the grade levels and uh the program that they're offering. The goal is
086to have 30 recruits. Further details will be provided in the near future. Finally, Scott's fund run has been set for Sunday, May 19th, and the next meeting for the alliance is February 12th at 700 p.m. at the West Milford Library and it will be there and also on Zoom. >> Thank you, Mrs. Van Djk. uh the special education pirate advisory committee, Mrs. Mugwart. So CPAC met Wednesday, January 17th in the media center at the high school. Uh there was a presentation by community personnel services. Uh CPS is a nonprofit agency providing uh supported employment and transition services to individuals uh in Bergen, Essex, Morris, Pake, Somerset, Sussex, and Union County in New Jersey. It was very informative and the presentation will be available on the website. Um Dr. Resza gave updates on uh the rescheduled
087nurtured heart training. Um some real time IEP updates. Um the ability to go back and see your archived IEPs. So he worked on that. Um that was brought up in the previous meeting. Um the ESY dates for 2024. um were given which is uh July 8th to August 8th. Um and that will be a Monday through Thursday um for all programs. Um it's starting a little later this year so that kids aren't missing because of the Fourth of July holiday. Um there was follow-up discussion regarding uh CST protocols uh sensory reading program uh foreign language alternative uh kindergarten inclusion model and uh the inclusion of out of district students in activities at their home school um which Dr. Reza spoke about um they've already worked on a directory so that those kids could be involved
088at their home school. Um the hiring process is ongoing for the assistant principal at Highlander Academy, Highlander Prep. Um a question was asked about um training for the whole staff at PK for the climb program and this is upcoming. Um the need for a future MCAPIN climb program was brought up um as well as an MD program at the high school for 2024 25. Um numbers for the inclusion preschool program uh are being looked at to see how that program can be built out. Um it w uh PK not having a fenced in playground was brought up and Dr. Resza stated that this is not an issue at this time. Um questions were asked regarding the cove at the high school. Uh Dr. Resza um informed us that uh Pmptonian has a has non-compete rules
089in their contract which prevents the code from selling food items at the same time as the vendor Ptonian who holds the bid for the national school lunch program. Um and the next CPAC meeting is scheduled for March 13th and I believe the locations to be determined. Correct. >> That's correct. Thank you, Miss Mark. >> That's it. Thank you. Okay, moving on. Any old business? >> Yes, Mrs. Doyle. >> I have whole old business because she just brought it up. Um, Ponttonian caterers. They're actually going to stop our kids in the transition program from selling their little bagels and cookies. Is >> it's not Ponttonian. It's a state state lunch program. You can't compete if you're a member of the program. You can't compete with it. And if you are selling items and off hours, you
090have to sell in compliance with the healthy snacks law nutritional guidelines part of the national school lunch program. So if we're not following that, we risk losing all of our reimbursement and funding for the lunch program. >> So now what's going to happen to this transition program because those kids depend on that. So, we're working often and um diligently with um the program, the staff to offer other opportunities, other activities, uh other uh merchandise uh that students can purchase. Uh so, working with again the teacher of the program, Mr. Schultz and I to recognize the importance of the co recognize the importance of the program and what it does for our students in that in the transition program. So we are very much committed to making sure that the opportunities that students are receiving in
091that program continue to the greatest extent within the confines of the the um the rules that we have to operate under at this time. >> If these students um had their sold their whatever their snacks or food after school, would that still be a problem? >> No. After school it's no problem as long as they're selling within the guidelines of Actually, no, not even. They could sell the other items after school, but the problem is the kids aren't in school at that point. If there was an event at the school at night, they could come back and they can they could work it there. >> They can't do that. So, we are looking at like out of out of the box ideas like that to try to make, you know, give our students the opportunity
092to do that, participate in those activities >> cuz I know they kids love it. >> Oh, we we all do. We all do. >> And we're also looking into some of the items that they use the funding for like the martial arts for the students and uh the yoga and incorporating that into the budget for next year. and for the rest of this year moving forward. So they don't know need to depend on the sales from the co >> you still have the transition program but not as dependent on the finances that >> Mrs. McQuart oh sorry >> I'll go to Mrs. not quite had a handout for a while. So, go to her, then I'll go to you. >> Just having been um in the high school and seeing one of the biggest parts
093of that program is the the interaction between uh the kids in that transition program and the students, the the the entire student body and the staff. Um and I realize that there we have restraints legally that there's nothing we can do about it, but I have heard from numerous people, both staff and students. um how much they're missing this program. And I just want to make sure that we have a really good resolution to this to keep these kids engaged and making the progress that this that this allows them to make towards their transition in life. Um and that it's made now and that not that they're not missing anything in the meantime because we've been part of the National School Lunch Program for a while. I believe I don't think it's new. So, I
094understand that maybe it was just caught now, but that is a big part of that curriculum. And I just want to make sure, as I'm sure everybody does, that those kids are not losing anything because of something some kind of government regulation. >> Thank you, Mr. Lip. >> Can I comment? >> Oh, I'll go to you go first. >> Uh, Mr. S, Dr. Whereas I believe we spoke at the committee meeting that we were looking at at other items that would not be in competition with the food and things like that. We're talking about sports memorabilia and other avenues that the store could carry. Correct. >> Correct. As I mentioned earlier, I talked about merchandise and other activities uh or excuse me activities merchandise other items such as you know like school supplies and other
095things that can be purchased. Uh so we are looking to and and I give a tremendous amount of credit and and appreciation to the teacher of the program uh Miss Bennis who's being creative and looking at those types of things to maintain the store as a destination for our students. But I appreciate the advocacy and the support which we all feel and we want to try to make this program as as good as we can under circumstances. >> Mrs. Romeo, did you want to say something? >> No, Mr. Lippy said it. Um, I I I was very upset to hear the rumors. I was very happy to hear the administration's resolve. Um, and in committee notes, it said that the Cove program is not being considered for budget cuts and that the Cove program is
096being supported more fully through next year's budget. Um, so those two things made me very happy. Um, as an educator, I support my Cove program. It's not called that at work. I've supported them every year. I actually used to have one that was called Roadkill. Um, but the food was delicious. And I bring dinner home uh normally at least one night a week to support a program just like the Cove. I bring home shepherd's pies. I bring home stuffed peppers and they're delicious and I pay good money to help support the program of the students. And then I have dinner. So, there are a lot of other ways to do many, many, many things. uh breakfast program when you know just all different ideas and things that they could look into. Um but I know
097that it does require probably some change and that is the part that is difficult but hearing that it is not cut that the students will be supported more in the budget and that their programs will all run is really really important. >> Right. It was want to say thank you. >> Yeah. I just want to be clear it was never a conversation that we were going to cut it out of the budget or change. We're just making the necessary changes to it and >> and amending the program moving forward. Dr. Rest on it. >> Yeah. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Schultz. Any other hold business? >> Move to close business. Second. >> All those in favor? >> Any opposed? >> New business. >> Seeing as none, I'd like to close with new business. All
098those in favor? >> Any opposed? Okay. Public comments. All speakers will have 5 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 participation 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. Anyone signed up for the second comments? >>
099No, there's not. >> Would anyone like to speak? >> Okay. >> I feel very tall. >> I know. I think I'm loud enough. Um, hello. I would like to thank you for the opportunity to speak on the matter of splitting the education committee. As a mother of two children in the district, one in special education and one in general education, and also as an educator myself, I know how important appropriate inclusion is for all of our children. I also know for a fact that this suggestion was not made in any way to limit the amount of inclusion in our district, but to give special education more time to be discussed. and I appreciate the thought behind that suggestion. That being said, my concern is both the perception that separating the committee's causes, no matter what
100name you put on the committee, and also the precedent that it sets in motion. I am concerned that having two committees would mean the possibility of having different board members sit on those committees and that there would be so much information kind of being lost in the shuffle that maybe that information might come back to the whole board not as clear in their original intention. I would feel more comfortable with the original idea of moving it to one separate night as a whole education committee to seeing if that would work. Special education is education and should be treated as such. What benefits the special education population benefits the school and the community as a whole. Our children, no matter their ability, need to learn to work together. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics,
101about 21.3% of the disabled population was employed in our country as of 2022. This had increased from 19% in 2021. And this number is expected to continue to increase. All of this starts in our school. And these conversations all start in your committee meetings. I would hope that as a board you would see the importance of education being education, no matter the ability of the child. Please pick a different night. That's fine. But don't separate my kids. Thank you. And by the way, Caitlyn Babcock, 13 post place. Sorry, I forgot. I was excited. Thank you, Miss Babcock. Anyone else wishing to speak? Okay, come forward. Hi, Courtney Wis Crox 7 Bordeau Terrace. Um, in relation to separating the education committee into general and special education or general and special services, it was stated tonight that
10260 school districts in New Jersey have divided committees. While that does sound like a big number, I wanted to share that there are 593 operating school districts, 85 charter schools, three Renaissance schools, and 16 non operating school districts for a total of 697 local education association agencies. Therefore, approximately 9.9% have separate committees. The remaining 90% do not. And my question is, how can you guarantee that the committee will not end up being more special education than truly special services as discussed? No matter what the title is, it can happen. As stated previously, you can Google any of these statistics. They are readily available online. Thank you. >> I'm sorry. Did you state your name? I know you said your address, but did you pretty. >> Thank you. Anyone else wishing to speak? >> Okay, seeing
103none >> to close public comments. >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> Any opposed? >> Point of inquiry. Is it poss So is it possible that we could take the clipboard that's on there and put it on a separate table so we don't have that awkward moment where they're signing and there's another person walking towards them. Just a thought for the future. And as I said, it was an inquiry. >> I think that's a great idea. >> Okay, so we have no need for an executive session. Uh, so could I have a motion to adjurnn? >> Second. >> No motion. A motion. >> All those in favor? >> Any opposed?