001Good good evening everyone and welcome to the 2024 reorganization meeting of the West Milford Board of Education. I'd like to call this meeting to order and wish everyone a happy new year. Uh please stand for the flag salute 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 meeting act, a public notice of this meeting has been sent to board members, all district schools, Herald News, Suburban Trends, The Record, the Messenger, West Milford Town Hall, and 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,
002township library, and all district schools. [Music] At this time, I'd like to read the official results of the election that was held this past November. Elected for a three-year term was Mrs. Miranda Jurgensson with a with 3,252 votes, Mrs. Stephanie Markwart with 2,985 votes and Mrs. Linda Van Djk with 2,935 votes. Finishing fourth was Mr. Joseph Warner with 2,922 votes and there were 223 writin votes. [Applause] At this time, I'm going to ask Mr. Brown, our board attorney, to administer the oath of office. Mr. Brown. Okay. So, I'll just folks do ready. I >> I >> do solemnly swear or affirm >> that I will support the Constitution of the United States >> that I will support the Constitution of the United States >> the Constitution of the State of New Jersey >> and the
003Constitution of the State of New Jersey >> and that I will bear true faith and allegiance >> and that I will bear true faith and allegiance >> to the same and to the governments established >> to the same and to the governments established >> to the United States and this state >> of the United states in this state >> under the authority of the people. >> So help me God. >> Next, I state your name. >> I Johnson >> do solemnly swear >> that I possess the qualifications prescribed by law >> that I possess the qualifications prescribed by law >> for the office of member of the board of education. >> For the office of member of the board of education >> and that I am not disqualified as a voter. and that I am
004not disqualified as a voter >> pursuant to RS94-1. >> Pursuant Pursuant to RS194-1, >> you are disqualified due to conviction of a crime. You are disqualified due to commission of a crime >> or offense listed in NJSA182-1 >> or offense listed in NJSA 18A2-1 >> and that I will faithfully and partially and justly >> and that I will faithfully and partially and justly >> perform all the duties of that office according to the best of my ability >> and just oh I'm sorry I don't know >> perform perform allies of that office according less than 5 billion. So help me congratulations. [Music] No, I don't. >> Congratulations everyone. I'd like to now open the floor to our newly elected and reelected board members for their remarks. Uh, Mrs. Jurgensson. >> Hello. I just want to
005say thank you so much to everybody who voted for me and I appreciate the confidence you all have in me. I look forward to working with everyone here and I'm really excited to serve the community that I love. Thank you, >> Mrs. Markwart. >> Um, basically the same. Thank you so much for the people in West Milford who put their faith in me as a board member and to do my best to, you know, make decisions that are best for our district and our kids. And I really look forward to working with the other board members to do that. >> All right, welcome back, Mrs. Van Dyke. >> Thank you. I'd just like to thank everyone that voted and I appreciate the confidence in me and I look forward to working with each and everyone
006new members and um having a cohesive board as we move forward to this new year and the many new things that are coming for West Milford. Thank you. >> Thank you. All right. At this time, I'll take the roll call. Uh, Mrs. Jurgensson >> here. >> Mrs. Markwbard >> here. >> Mrs. Van Dyke >> here. >> Mr. Sidowitz >> here. >> Mrs. Dwire >> here. >> Mrs. Lockwood >> here. >> Mr. Lippy >> here. >> Mrs. Romeo >> here. >> And Mrs. Rico >> here. >> Thank you. [Music] is now at this time I'll take nominations for the office of board president. >> Yeah, Mr. Ditz, >> I'd like to nominate Kate Romeo, board president. >> There any other nominations? Mrs. Vand? >> Yes. I'd like to nominate Clara Lockwood for president. Any other nominations?
007>> I was going to nominate Claire Lachley. >> Okay. I need a motion and a second to close nominations. >> I move to close nomination. Second. Okay, I will do the roll call now for the vote for president. >> Oh, we need a voice vote. I'm sorry. >> All in favor? >> I >> Thanks, Keith. Any opposed? Thanks, >> okay, I'll do the vote for Keat Romeo first. >> Mr. Sidowitz. >> Yes. Mrs. Dwire, >> no. >> Mrs. Jurgensson, >> yes. >> Mr. Lippy, >> yes. >> Mrs. Lockwood, >> no. >> Mrs. Markbard, >> no. >> Mrs. Rakana, >> no. >> Mrs. Romeo, >> yes. >> Mrs. Van Djk, >> no. Okay, now I'll do the vote for Clare Lockwood. >> Mr. Cidowitz, >> no. >> Mrs. Dwire, >> yes. >> Mrs. Jurgensson, >> no.
008>> Mr. Lippy, >> no. >> Mrs. Lockwood, >> yes. >> Mrs. Markwart, >> yes. >> Mrs. Rakano, >> yes. >> Mrs. Romeo. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Van Dyke. >> Yes. >> Congratulations, Mrs. Lockwood. You're a new new board president. [Applause] [Music] Make a move. Thank you. Um I just want to thank my fellow board members for entrusting me in this um new role. We have a a a big year ahead of us moving forward. uh we have a lot of work to continue to do and I'm hopeful that we can all work together to achieve the best possible outcome. Thank you. [Applause] Okay, next let's call for the nominations for the office of uh vice president up first. Okay. Um I nominate Tara Rano. Okay. Will >> and um Mrs. Van Dyke. >> Anyone else?
009Okay. Can I have a >> nomination? >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? Okay. Can we have the ballot vote for Torah? It's Mr. Schultz. >> Sure. >> Uh, Mr. Sidowitz. >> No. >> Mrs. Dwire? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Jurgensson? >> No. >> Mr. Lippy? >> No. >> Mrs. Lockwood? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Markwbart? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Rico? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Romeo? >> No. >> Mrs. Van Djk? >> Yes. And here's the vote for Mrs. Romeo, Mr. Sideways. >> Yeah. Okay. Congratulations, Mrs. Rakano. Coming to the vice president seat. [Applause] Um, similar to Claire, I want to thank everybody for entrusting me with this role. Um, it's been always been my goal to do what's best for our community, our kids, and our district. And I hope we
010can all come together and work together for that end goal. Thanks. Okay. Do we have any um changes to the agenda, Dr. Penari? >> Okay. Can I have a motion to adopt the agenda as presented? Please move >> to adopt the agenda. >> All those in favor? >> Any opposed? >> Okay. Can I have a motion? to resolution one under board reorganization resolution. >> Second. >> Any comments? >> Okay. See? None. >> Mrs. Romeo. >> Yes. >> Mr. Jurgensson. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Van Dyke. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Dwire. >> Yes. >> Mr. Rakano. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Lockwood. Yes, >> Mr. Sidowitz. >> Yes, >> Mrs. Mark. >> Yes, >> Mr. Libby. >> Yes, >> I like to move resolution 24 reorganization resolution. >> Second. >> Any comments, discussion? Seeing none, roll call, please.
011>> Mrs. Romeo, >> yes. >> Mrs. Jurgensson, >> yes. >> Mrs. Rico, >> yes. >> Mr. Mr. Sawitz. >> Yes. >> Mr. Lippy. >> Yes. >> Mrs. L. Mrs. Lockwood. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Markwart. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Van Dyke. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Dwire. >> Yes. >> I like to move resolution three. >> Second. >> Any discussion? Seeing none, roll call, please. >> Mrs. Rico. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Jensen. >> Yes. >> Mr. Lippy. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Mr. Squire. >> Yes. >> Mr. Sidwood. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Longwood. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Van Dyke. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Mark. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Romeo. >> Yes. >> I like to move resolution four. Second. >> Second. >> Any comments? I just Can we move this all together? Like we have to move each
012one separately. >> You can move them all together >> because Usually for reorganization we try to >> this is so much more fun. [Applause] >> I might not have this. >> Okay. >> Roll call, please. >> Mr. Romeo. >> Yes. >> Mr. Sidowitz. Yes, >> Mrs. Jurgensson. >> Yes, >> Mrs. Dwire. >> Yes, >> Mrs. Rakana. >> Yes, >> Mrs. Lwood. >> Yes, >> Mrs. Van Dyke. >> Yes, >> Mr. Lippy. >> Yes, >> Mrs. Marart. >> Yes. >> Like resolutions 5 through 12. >> Second resolution. >> Discussion. >> Yes, please. >> Yes, Mrs. Romeo. Um it's been discussed for several years. Um under number nine, the education committee being two separate committees, education and special education. I would like to make that motion to have that changed for those upcoming committee meetings. >> I
013have to agree with Mrs. uh Romeo that we do need two separate committees. We need education and we need special. They're two very tital committees. >> Yes, Mr. Silence. >> I I do agree. Holy smokes. Sorry about that, folks. I do agree with that uh sentiment. Uh however, with these these are bylaw changes, so bylaw changes will require first reading, second reading. So, uh policy committee, I'm sure, will take care of that. But I definitely agree with that sentiment. Um my additional comment is regarding um committees that we have or subcommittees that we have and I'm not quite sure that we still need a parks and recreation committee. Uh I think that most of the work that's done through the parks and recreation department is done through the administration. So administration to administration but uh
014a consideration for down the line. Thank you. >> I was going to say the same thing. The bylaw you would have to change part of our our bylaws. It would have to be taken up. >> Um the one thing I think that I would like to bring up about um education, we we did add special education to the committee which wasn't always there. So it is two within the same committee. But what I would like to see happen is the night being changed to a separate night from the other committees. So education being on its own night. This way no matter how long it runs, we're we're not held to the committees that come after cuz I feel like it's always rushed. We did always have it at an hour. when I came on board
015that was changed to 90 minutes to accommodate the addition of special education now being in that committee which he actually wasn't always um spoken about in committees. That was a change that I know was made when I came on the board. Um but I think moving that committee to a different night I think should definitely be a discussion that we have. >> So Mrs. Mrs. Lockwood, are you saying that we would have education and special education on a different night together? It wouldn't be two separate meeting. It wouldn't be two separate committees. >> Well, it would still be the same committee of education and special education, but it would be on a separate night is what I'm saying is moving it to a separate night. >> Two arenas would be discussed in one night. >>
016Yes. Yeah. I I I think that's a good idea because that's what happens. Unfortunately, the other committees get pushed so late and education is our primary function. So, it should be that we give our attention. I think it would help also because sometimes we would like to have somebody come to committee to present and because of our time constraint with the other committees, we're unable to do that. So, maybe that's that would be an ideal. have a third Tuesday where you would use for the education. I I don't have a problem with that. I think that's a good idea. >> I mean, does anybody else have any comments to administrators about Okay. about making it two separate committees, too. I mean, that we can obviously discuss in policy. So, that can be a bigger conversation
017in policy. But, I did do a little bit of research real quick and a lot of other districts don't split it. And I'm not sure. I mean, everybody knows me and knows how I push for inclusion. I'm not sure if splitting education into two separate components, if we can do them both together, ultimately we're here to educate our students regardless of whether they're general education or special education. Um so as long as we as board members are fulfilling our duties in committees in making sure that each student's curriculum is um you know reflective of what they need to be taught. I don't know if we necessarily need to but we can discuss it more in policy for sure. >> Um but Mr. Romeo but I'm sorry >> there's a few things I would add. Um
018the first is that um when Dr. Dr. Fernari came on um she had mentioned that she had never seen another board that had all of their committees in the same night. Um and we talked about splitting the nights. I think that is absolutely needed for all of us. Um what we've been doing is unfair to us as trustees. So that's first. Second, we could run a 2-hour meeting every single month on education. And we can run a 2-hour meeting every single month on special education. I am all for inclusion. If you know me, you know that I am a special ed mom, number one. Um, and two, I sit on this board where I fight for every single child, no, for their needs, no matter what. So that has nothing to do with the discussions
019that need to happen for the education of our students. However, at this point, we're basically running a lot of what in the past would have been considered out of district programs within our district. And I can from my view this year most of them have not been discussed to the point where they need to be because we don't have that time. And we can spend 2 hours a month on education like I said and we could spend 2 hours a month on special education or you can keep it the same where they're still not both getting the focus. So it is not to me about inclusion because inclusion should always be in all meetings. Um it is about really giving the highlight of both things curriculum and our special education programs and then mapping them.
020Of course all our committee meetings we want to align them and communicate them. I really feel like this is very important for our district. um as we started over the years the new programs in district um they've never really been given and shed the light that that I think that they should have been you know um and I feel like that's important for all our students too. >> So I just I do agree with that. I do I will say though we've had the programs that we currently have we've had for many years in this district. Um, Highlander has been for I mean I I can't go since um climb program I know has been at least six seven years. So we have had these programs. We haven't really added any additional programs other than
021moving two programs into one building and combining and moving some of the other programs into different buildings. So, we haven't added any um more special education than what we've had. And I think if we do put them if we do put that committee on a separate night, I think it it will give you the opportunity to discuss what needs to be discussed and not be held to a meeting after it. Um so, basically, I mean, what I would propose is having a start time on that meeting and it goes until we're finished. I would also propose that if anyone's watching, uh, if this is going to be discussed in committee for, you know, I mean, there's nine of us, um, and there's a whole community of people out there with children that go to school.
022So, um, you know, if they want to email and let us know their opinion before the bylaws get changed, it's not a bad idea, you know, to hear. Um, I I shared why I think this is important. Claire, you think that we can do it still in the same meeting and keep it as it's been? Both of those opinions, neither one is wrong, you know, >> but we do discuss both in the meeting. We do discuss special education and general education within that meeting. So, it's still going to be discussed. It's just going to give us more time. >> Um, >> yeah. And then Mr. Mipe, >> I I think you're you're you're both hitting the same nail on the head here. Um I I think at this point because the the one splitting the
023committees would be a a bylaw question. >> I think right now we can move forward. We're just moving it to a different night. Moving it to a three, four, five, however many hours. >> It it it needs to be make sure we have some some food for Dr. Resi here on his way home. But um if we can at least get that part of it down, then we can reach out to the community and talk to the professionals and figure out what's the best way to break them or keep them. Maybe even break them, but keep certain sections in both ones so they overlap a little bit on those things. I'm looking right >> Madam President um when I began in the role as director of ed we did have education committee on a separate
024night which allowed for as Mrs. Van Djk said to bring in uh supervisors and staff members who would present to the committee. So um you know that's a that's a structure that we've had in place in the past. We didn't feel rushed. we were able to we were able to have a good uh conversation our event. >> Oh, sure. So, one of the things that I think I mentioned to I can't remember if it was the whole board or in an update, but I talked about annotated um agendas going out to the each committee and sharing those with the chair me the chairpeople of each of those committees ahead of the committee meeting so that the chair is able to talk with the rest of the committee to um really hone in on what the
025committee is interested in learning. in addition to the things that we feel are important to to work with the committee members on at any given time. So in order to help those discussions become more focused and fine-tuned, our team is prepared to do that. So um when committees are established and chair people are named, we're prepared to for all all of the committees are prepared to go through that process and work very closely with the chairs. Um, from my mind, it's really critical that the chairperson of each committee takes that leadership role and has a say in what is going to be discussed. And of course, the other committee members have the opportunity to say what they would like to see discussed on each of those agendas as well. So, just wanted to make sure
026that that was part of your thinking as you're going through this process. >> I I do want to say that I was chairperson of personnel this last year and that's one thing that Dr. Mary did do with working with me is she would send me the agenda ahead of time. We would go through it and then also we would go after the meeting the minutes because that's really important too. The minutes from our committee meetings are very essential to each one of us that are not in those committee meetings. So if we could open that process to all the committees, I think that would be very helpful. And I do think Kate's point about special ed, uh, about breaking it off and having parents, um, email us, I think we could still move forward with
027the policy, uh, changing the bylaws if that's what we want. The first reading could be the meeting where people could come out and speak if they would like to see it or not like to see it. So, I think that that gives the board and everyone a chance to get that information. >> Yeah. And there is going to be a CPAC meeting coming up where I'm sure this will probably be a discussion and discussed amongst them um this month. Yes, Mr. Sims. >> Short of a bylaw change which we should truly treat as our constitution. It should be deliberate and slow process. We can always form ad hoc methods of doing this. So if we find that special education has more consuming topics then we can have an ad hoc committee specifically for special education
028and see how that works in order to kind of formulate well this worked this didn't work before we jump into bylaw changes. >> Thank you. Um I agree with what will saying um by having the ad hoc meeting. Um I would say the past few months has been a heavily focused special education um education committee meeting. Um but that might not always be the case, right? So I think if we could have those ad hoc meetings until we feel like it's not necessary to focus there, um that might be a good solution. Okay. Okay. Anything else? Seeing none. Roll call, please. Mr. Jerus [Music] 12. >> Yep. >> Okay. >> Mrs. Rakana. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Romeo. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Dwire. >> Yes. >> Mr. Limpy. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Van Dyke. >> Yes.
029>> Mrs. Mark. >> Yes. >> Mr. Sidowitz. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Lwood. >> Yes. [Applause] >> Okay. Any old business? >> Move to close old business. >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? >> New business. >> Move to close new business. >> Oh, sorry. All those in favor? >> Any opposed? >> Okay. Public comment. >> 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. Publics of 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 get their full name, group affiliation, and their address. All statements shall be directed
030to the presiding officer. No participant may address or question board members individually. All speakers are expected to have read the statement within the agenda regarding the regulations concerning public comments. Members of the public are reminded that they are legally responsible and liable for their comments. Mr. Schultz, did anyone sign up? >> No, there wasn't. Would anybody like to speak? [Applause] >> On. >> Yes, it's on. >> It It should be on. Katherine Weiss Connors, 37 High View Drive. I was not planning on getting up tonight, but I have a concern about the special ed versus general education committee. The state of New Jersey currently is pushing for more inclusion classes because there is so many students who are in pullout classes. We're one of the states with the um the lowest inclusion rates by separating
031us into two separate committees. I'm a mother of a special education student. By separating two different two different committees, my concern is you are now separating our children and you're not thinking about that. So, I was like I'm not here. I wasn't prepared to get up and speak, but I want you to take that into consideration, which I'm sure will be brought at this next CPAC meeting when we discuss it. Putting it on a separate night sounds great. I'm sure these nights are long, but by doing special education and general education, you're now doing the pole pull out and everything. You're keeping our children separate and I don't think that's fair. I think they should be considered into the in the general ed decisions. So I would consider keeping it and like you said maybe
032you know doing nights on focusing but not doing two different committees because my child deserves the same amount of time that a general education student deserves. Thank you very much. Thank you. Anyone else wishing to speak? >> Okay. Public comments. >> All those in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? Okay. Can I have an adjournment? Motion to meeting. All those in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? >> That was good. >> Good. Good night. >> Thank you.