001Good evening. Um, welcome to the August 22nd West Milford Board of Education meeting. I'd like to call this meeting to order. Um, first I'd like to ask for a moment of silence. Please stand for the flag salute behind us to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. In accordance with the provisions of the open public meetings act, 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 in the West Milford TV 77. also posted in the administration building. Copies of the board meeting agenda calendar resolution were
002provided to all local media, town hall, township library, and all district schools. Roll call. Miss Francisco. Mrs. Rico >> here. >> Mr. Sidowitz. Mr. Lippy >> here. >> Mrs. Dwer >> here. >> Mr. Gino. Mrs. O'Brien. Mrs. Lockwood >> here. >> Mrs. Van Djk here. >> Mrs. Romeo >> here. First, we will have Dr. Fernari superintendent report. Thank you, Mrs. Romeo. We've been extremely busy this summer working to prepare for the new school year. Parents and families should have received a letter from me dated August 18th that described some of the in innovations uh and initiatives that were we were engaged in. In case you missed our message, the parent portal opened yesterday. This is where you will find important information about your child's class placement along with other forms to be filled out, including
003the school lunch application and acceptable use policy. I want to thank Mr. Novak and the team of teachers who engaged in curriculum work as well as elementary math teachers who collaborated to identify the new Eureka Squared math series for grades five uh K through 5. Thank you also to those staff and administrators who implemented our summer programs, including the STEM camp, the summer reading program, and the ESY program, which was overseen by Dr. Resza and his team. All of our teachers and administrators and support staff members did a tremendous amount of work to prepare for the new school year. Whether it was their preparation in professional learning opportunities, preparation for instruction, organizing our school resources, placing students, or preparing our facilities, our schools were active and productive this summer. The transformation of Westbrook School to
004house Highlander Academy, Highlander Prep, and the Learning Unlimited program took a monumental effort. Thank you to Ms. Mrs. Francisco, Mr. Kelly and the operations staff who worked to make physical changes to the building and to the summer operations interns who helped as well. As I said at the July meeting, I want to thank Mrs. Romeo, Mrs. Lockwood, and the entire board for allowing me to join the West Milford Township Public Schools family. I'm truly looking forward to working with you in support of our students as they learn and grow. Next, I'd like to introduce the draft district goals for the 2023 2024 school year. The district administrative team and I met this month to ensure that the goals truly reflect this year's priorities. These goals, once approved, will become part of our school goals and
005individual administrator and teacher goals. The district goals are also aligned with the district strategic plan, which I will present as updates to the board at future board of education meetings. Each of the draft district goals is written as a smart goal, meaning that they are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and timebound. As these are annual goals, the expectation is that they will be achieved and or have significant progress made um by the end of the 23 24 school year. District goal number one proposed continue our initiative to enhance the district math program in order to provide students with the skills necessary to prepare for future success as measured by the planning and implementation of a rigorous standardsbased curriculum supported by the allocation of resources use of formative assessments and continued professional development. District goal number two
006proposed stabilize district finances in light of the challenges of S2 reductions in state aid and declining enrollment as measured by the identification of cost-effective solutions and potential means of revenue generation. District goal number three proposed continue to foster a culture that supports the mental and physical well-being of our students and staff as measured by the identification and implementation of appropriate resources, professional development, and communication about available supports. And finally, district goal number four proposed increase a sense of unity across all schools in the district as measured by the implementation of revised communication and branding strategies and appropriate consistency of program implementation. Members of the board, please let me know if you have questions about any of the draft goals or if you would like to discuss their content. It is our intention to place the
007final version of the district goals on the September agenda for your approval. This concludes my report. Thank you. Thank you, Dr. Canari. Next up is Mr. Novak um with the director of education report. >> Thank you, Mrs. Romeo. Um I would like to begin with a um update on some of our summer curriculum work. Uh Dr. Fenari mentioned it in her uh in her opening remarks. uh the work on the um Eureka Math Squared program, the replacement for our K5 program was probably one of the more uh exciting processes I've been involved with in my time as director of ed. Um although it's a K5 program that we um are putting into place and and purchased and are move forwarding on uh moving forward on this was a great process for K12 to take a
008look at our uh take a look at our math process hear from our staff members engage with some tremendous professional development and and really move uh really move the district forward. So I think our uh our families are going to see tremendous uh change in uh many of the things that we do uh in mathematics this year. Uh one of the things that uh we spoke about um today is looking forward to our September 19th board meeting. I'm going to do a uh more in-depth presentation on our K5 program implementation as well as talk about some of the uh revisions and discussions we had over the summer for algebra 1 geometry algebra 2 as they pertain to our middle school and high school students. Uh so you know your approval on the Eureka math um
009curriculum is on the agenda for tonight. Um along with that we also have a number of new courses at the middle school. We are uh implementing a semester course for character education in grades sixth through 7th grade. Uh this was a course proposed uh in conjunction with our uh middle school staff, their character education committee uh along with uh Mrs. Ryan hold the interim principal at that time. uh we found after the uh return to quote unquote normal um normal school hours after the pandemic that our students had um you know met some challenges in online learning virtual and hybrid learning that sort of thing. So, uh, one of the goals of this course, um, as presented in the curriculum is to, um, you know, get back to interaction, team building, a lot of the
010things that we've had in our project venture courses over the years, but this is a more, uh, dedicated approach to that process, and it's available for sixth through 7th graders, uh, in a semester, half-year course. Uh, also at the Mcaban school, we um had a pro process last year for inclusion of um some special education programs into our percussion ensemble. Uh if you were at our um all district performances and some of our performances last year, you really um you know, many people moved to tears with with the success of a lot of the uh a lot of the uh inclusion programs we implemented last year. this process for uh creating a um unified specific percussion ensemble takes that to the next level. So um that's on the agenda for approval tonight. And then um
011last but not least is uh along the same lines of of an uh an inclusive nature as we're sitting now in the in the new um Highlander Academy um Highlander Prep building. The journalism and modern media course that has been uh in our high school for many years has been um revised and adjusted to meet the needs of the students here uh at the Highlander Academy. So uh a couple uh very exciting projects over the summer. Uh the next thing I want to talk about was um another exciting development. Take a little sip. Uh I had the privilege of attending a uh meeting of the uh Highlander Education Foundation um sorry Highlander Funding Committee which led to some discussions about the uh potential rebirth of a uh education foundation uh here in West Milford. So
012it was a a very exciting night. Um Dr. Goff and um Mrs. Stevenson prepared a uh presentation for the community that was you know very um uh very engaging uh very positive uh probably 20 to 30 members in attendance. I think they walked away with some success with people signing up for um executive board positions in the uh education foundation. So I just wanted to um you know provide an opportunity for Mrs. Stevenson to come and speak about the Ed Foundation and the um and the committee without having to wait for the second public comment. So uh thank you for being here tonight and for you know for the process. >> Thank you Dr. No miss just gave you a doctorate. >> Thank you Mr. Novak. Um Dr. Goff could not be here tonight um
013but she is watching live so I hope I do her very well by presenting to all of you tonight. Um we are in the throws of really establishing a wonderful positive um committee for our community of West Milford as well as with all of you. Um I know that you are aware where this came from. We are um really suffering from state funding loss and cuts and and we are trying to turn that into the positive and one of the best ways to do that is by um gaining the community support in making a real valiant effort. Um the branches as you have all seen there are four different branches. Mr. Novak spoke about the educational foundation. We plan we have an executive board already set. Um Dr. Goff and I will be co-presidents co-presidents.
014Lisa Johnson will be our vice president. Our secretary will be Christina Duffy and our treasurer is Amy Lewis. So, we have some real wonderful um people on board with us that have already already established their names in the community with their work and we are excited to get that off the ground. Um, we hope to do some dying to donates to get a little bit of a pocket stash to first get our 5013 established. Um, from there we hope to do two or three fundraisers a year and we will not be stepping on any PTA, PTA, PTSO, PTO's, HSAs toes. Um, we hope to very much work in conjunction with them. um so that this turns into a really wellestablished foundation. With that being said, um the education foundation will operate a little differently than
015some of the other ones that you may have heard of. We hope to take all of the money that we fund raise and give it directly back to the board of ed so that the bigger programs can be um saved. Um things that we've talked about are the STEM camp that everyone has loved in the district as well as maybe refurbishing Chromebooks so that that money can be regenerated into something else. Um, another branch of the um, Highlander Funding Committee is writing to legislators about the S2 um, as well as the F33 formula, which is that sending and receiving um, that we've talked about a lot specifically with, um, our PCTI. Um, so we hope to start with a flood of emails. Um, it's a really easy thing to do to just send an email
016to a bunch of different senators and then we hope to have a committee that will call and say, "Senator so and so, this is so and so from West Milford." And they will know us by name once they are flooded with those emails. We hope to meet with those senators. We hope to get them to pass bills as some of the senators in South Jersey have already started to stop S2 funding and to reform it. Um from there another branch that we're doing is um collaborating with grant writing. Um we already heard Mr. Libby speak about the electronic bus grant. We've investigated that. We've investigated other grants that are provided by New Jersey state as well as the federal government. Um we are really anxious to work with all of you in helping to write
017grants. There's a lot that goes into grant writing such as doing research um just the actual writing of it. We can be a partner with you um to get that done. Um we are really excited to hear that Mr. Novak has already started investigating our qualifications for the high impact tutoring grant available for fourth and fifth third and fourth grades in New Jersey. but we hope to just find more and send them your way and to provide the research and to give you whatever you may need to get the bigger grants into our school district and then into our budget. The last branch is the social media branch. I don't know if you've heard of this thing called Tik Tok, but it's a pretty big deal. Um, and there are um, little businesses that have
018just taken off with Tik Tok. And we're hopeful that we can have a committee of adults and kids making Tik Toks to get our message across and to get into the news in a pro positive light. West Milford did this. They raised this much money. They wrote to senators. They have a meeting. We want to see you there. whatever um the need may be, we hope to get the message out with social media. So, we have a very big umbrella which is the Highlander Funding Committee, lots of branches underneath it, and we hope that each and every one of you is a part of it with us. >> Thank you, Mr. >> You're welcome. And your next meeting was October 4th. >> All right. Good. >> October 4th. >> 4th. >> Where will that be?
019Uh the same high school high school cafeteria. >> All right. Thank you, Mrs. Stevenson. That uh concludes my report for tonight. >> Thank you, Mr. Novak. >> Um Miss Francisco, uh special reports and correspondence. >> Yes. Uh we have the minutes from the July 18th workshop regular meeting and the executive session for your consideration. I'd make a motion to approve the following board of education minutes from July 18th workshop and July 18th executive session. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. Any opposed? >> Okay. Uh my president's report I feel like everything I had in my president's report's been said already. Um, but I wanted to note that um, members of the board have told me about um, the Highlander Academy and how amazing it looks and how exciting it is. Um, you know,
020uh, with our new space. I want to thank Mr. Kelly and all of our custodial and maintenance staff for their hard work this summer. Um, time is ticking. First day of school will be here before we know it and it's very exciting. Um also, um remember if there is a problem with your schedule, reach out to your students counselor or the school, um guidance department. Um board members cannot um help you with that. You have to go to um your child's school counselor or case manager. Um I also was going to talk about the Highlander funding committee meeting. Um, it really was very refreshing to see almost 30 people in the community come together to talk about how to work together for our education system and for our students. Um, it really was nice to
021see the positivity, the excitement, um, and all of the ways that you could be involved. So, some people are never going to make a Tik Tok, right? Some people are never going to write a letter, but the cool thing is they already wrote the letter. So, all you have to do is send an email. You know, um my 92-year-old grandmother who lives in town is worried about our kids' education. She's not going to email a letter, but she will call her neighbors and tell them about this, you know. Um so, it is something to talk about. Everyone can be involved. Um because I think our senior citizen community, and I say that because they have just as much to care about this as the new parents that live in town, you know, because the more
022we all work together, the more we will have and the better it will be um for all community members. So, this is exciting. Um I would like to ask Mrs. Stevenson, where could someone find your presentation from the last meeting? >> Your email usually. >> Okay. And your email is Courtney Stevenson Highlander email >> Highlander Funding Committeegmail.com and you could get this presentation um emailed to you. Uh in it, I'm not going to go over it, but in it is a lot of ways that you could be involved. And I I think that's great. So, thank you to everyone that was at the meeting and the excitement of this. Um and so next is public comment. Oh, before that. >> Oh, yes. >> Um, Courtney, would you give us that email again? >> Highlander Funding
023Committee at G. >> Oh, okay. I feel like >> we also um at the October 4th meeting, we will hand out. >> Good. Thank you. >> And I could attach a PDF to the advertisement for the October 4th meeting. >> Wonderful. >> We send out the school messenger. So, >> thank you. Okay. Um, public comment. 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 may
024address 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. Do we have anyone that would like to speak? My name is Courtney Stevenson, 307 Ridge Road, West Milford, New Jersey. As you have already heard tonight, the Highlander Funding Committee's goal is to assist our school district in the potent potential reduction of state funding by uniting the community and guarding support for the district. We are staying positive in the light that we can help and support the board's work. However, we are also very transparent with our followers on our Facebook page, which you can also find about the truth of the state. the truth that state
025funding has forced budget cuts and will continue to do so. In that respect, I would like to speak as a mother, educator, and one of the co-leaders of the Highlander funding committee regarding the class size policy. Revisions were done by adding a column called number of students desired, and perhaps that is good enough. However, these numbers are still too high for children to learn best in the best environment possible and for teachers to teach effectively. According to the revised policy, the number desired for the K3 range is 20 to 23 students with a max of 25. This is too many children in our primary grades. I am also concerned and would like to point out that students in grades four through six were grouped together. Our sixth graders are now in the middle school where
026class sizes and needs are very different than the elementary level. Fourth graders especially should be looked at with great care. The NJSLA scores directly impact our school district ratings in US News and World Reports as well as niche.com. This grade should not have a max of 28 children. If you are looking for test scores to increase, as many of you have mentioned in previous meetings, there are plenty of studies and lots of research stating how smaller class sizes are better for everyone involved. You know this, but this is my children's school and their teachers and their friends and their community. This instruction decision will directly relate to how students perform on standardized tests. Therefore, this policy is a major concern for me. With limited support in our schools, like guidance counselors and math coaches, you
027are leaving teachers on their own islands. You are guaranteeing them to get more sick physically and mentally. Teachers will burn out and our students will not receive the quality education we have come to expect in West Milford. Today, teaching is very different than it was only 5 or 10 years ago. Teachers are dealing with children who are anxious, depressed, worried, scared, quiet, and really loud and rambunctious and excited. And these are the regular kids, the ones with grounded, solid families. Teachers are also seeing an increase of students with unstable family lives. They are coming into our classrooms with wounds on their backs. Teachers have students who see school and the classroom as a safe haven. But with so many students in one class, those students who need their te teacher to notice them will get
028lost. There's also a huge influx of students needing special education support and teachers are unable to provide this support alone. With huge class sizes, they cannot differentiate their instruction and provide challenge work for the gifted students as well as scaffolded instruction for the special needs children. Teachers are expected to provide a safe and comfortable environment while simultaneously teaching a very rigorous New Jersey curriculum. However, they are not superheroes and this policy is expecting them to be. On the contrary to everything I just said said, I get it. I have felt the heat before as I have sat in your seat. I know what it's like to hear things that need to be cut. It is with truth that I ask each and every single one of you to collaborate with the Highlander Funding Committee to
029band this community, our community together to stop this. Those of you who have reached out and attended our meetings, we are grateful of your support. We need every one of you on board with our efforts. When a community works together, good can only happen. And you as board trustees are a major part of that community. We look forward to working with all nine of you to inspire change within West Milford so all of our policies are positive ones. Thank you, Mrs. Sen. Is there another person that would like to another public comment? Move to close public comments? >> Second. >> All in favor? >> Um Dr. Penari, is the agenda um that we received as presented or do you have any changes? are things that I need to ahead. >> There you go. Yep. There
030are a few adjustments. Uh board members, if you move to page six of your agenda, um motion number two under personnel is pulled. Let's see. Continuing on, we have a change in uh personnel motion number 31. Um I won't use staff names but um I will use initials. So the ninth individual in uh item 31 uh initial CS is removed. And finally um personnel motion number 46. Same procedure uh staff member um MM fourth individual on that um that motion. The dollar amount rather than $1,500 should be $250. >> That's I'm so sorry. That's on page 16. We have a lot of personnel motions tonight. And those are all the changes I have. Move to approve the agenda as amended. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. Any opposed? Okay. Uh, we're going to
031move on to education. Mrs. Lockwood, >> I make a motion to approve agenda items 1 through nine under education. Second report. >> Any questions or comments about one through nine and education? Mrs. Stroer? I >> I do. Um Mike >> 1 through nine. Oh, sorry. 1 through nine. Is this the um this isn't the fair? Yeah, the fair view trip. Um do we have chaperones yet for that? I think the school is still working on that, but yeah. >> Okay. I thought I thought we were supposed to get a list of chaperons when the trip came up for approval. And I just want to make sure we had enough female chaperones and male chaperones. Yeah, we'll have two committee meetings before that field trip. So, um that's something we can discuss in education at the
032next committee meeting. Thank you. Any other questions or comments? Seeing as none, roll call, please. Miss Francisco, >> Mrs. Lockwood, >> yes. >> Mrs. Rico, >> yes. >> Mr. Sidowitz, >> yes. >> Mrs. Dwire, >> yes. >> Mrs. Van Djk, >> yes. >> Mr. Lippy, >> yes. >> Mrs. Romeo, >> yes. Um, we're going to go to personnel. Mrs. Van Djk, I'd like to move items one and three through 50 with the uh amendments. Okay. Any questions or comments? Um, just for now, >> seeing as now we'll go to roll call. >> Mrs. Van Djk, >> yes. >> Mr. Sidowitz, >> yes. >> Mr. Lippy, >> yes. >> Mrs. Rico, >> yes. >> Mrs. Lockwood, >> yes. >> Mrs. Dwire, >> abstain number five. And yes on everything else, Mrs. Romeo. >> Yes. [Applause] Uh,
033operations and finance. Mr. Rano, >> I'd like to make a motion um to move items 1 through 7 under operations and finance. >> Second. >> Questions and comments on 1 through 7. Roll call, please. Mr. Sidowitz. >> Yes. >> I have a question real quick. >> Go ahead. >> Sorry. On seven. Is that Does that include the New Jersey school boards um reimbursement? >> I thought we >> for the board members. >> I thought we already approved that. >> We did already approve that. >> Yeah. Because when you have that is we have the grid and you have to vote for yourself. >> You abstain on yourself and you vote yes for everyone else. >> I just saw that it was on the documents. That's the only reason I asked again under the um under
034the board documents. >> Yeah, it's no the board has already been approved for that. >> That's what Thank you. >> You're welcome. Um where was I? Mr. Let's start this way. Mr. Mrs. Rico, >> yes. >> Mrs. Lockwood, >> yes. >> Mrs. Dwer, >> yes. Mr. Sidewoods, >> yes. >> Mr. Lippy, >> yes. >> Mrs. Van Dyk, >> yes. >> Mrs. Romeo, >> yes. >> I would like to move item number eight under operations and finance. >> Any questions or comments? Roll call. >> Mrs. Rico, >> yes. >> Mrs. Lockwood, >> yes. >> Mrs. Dwire, >> yes. >> Mr. Sidowitz, >> yes. >> Mr. Lippy, >> yes. >> Mrs. Van Djk >> I abstain >> Mrs. Romeo >> abstain and I would like to move items number nine through 13 under operations and finance. >>
035Any questions or comments? >> Roll call. >> Mrs. Rico, >> yes. >> Mrs. Lockwood, >> yes. >> Mrs. Dwire, >> yes. >> Mr. Sidowitz. >> Yes. >> M. So, Mrs. Mr. Lippy, >> yes. >> Mrs. Van Djk, >> yes. >> Mrs. Romeo, >> yes. >> Uh, Mr. Sidewick's policy. >> I move to wave the first reading of the new policy entitled sick leave code 1642.01 and the new regulation entitled sick leave code 1642.01. >> Second. Questions and comments. Roll call, please. Mr. Sidowitz, >> yes. >> Mr. Lippy, >> yes. >> Mr. Mrs. Rico, >> yes. >> Mrs. Van Dyke, >> yes. >> Mrs. Dwire, >> yes. >> Mrs. Lockwood, >> yes. >> Mrs. Romeo, >> yes. >> I'd like to move items 1 through nine under policy. >> Don't all speak at once. Second. >>
036Thank you. >> You're welcome. Questions and comments 1 through nine. Go ahead, Mr. Sway. Uh, >> regarding the class size policy, I think that it's an unfortunate and uncomfortable reality that we have to face in order to give our administration the tools that it needs to, um, move forward in our fiscal realities. So, uh, obviously nobody wants that. We truly do want smaller class sizes, but I do feel that uh the upcoming years are going to be difficult and not passing this policy will make it more difficult for our administration to help us move forward. >> Um when I read through the policy, um I was very concerned about kindergarten through third grade. Um desired number 25. I have a problem with that, but a maximum of 28. These children are in formidable years and
037um this is where a lot of problems um academically, emotionally um start to surface. And if the teachers don't have that small class size and they can't focus on those little ones, um I I just think some some of these kids are going to get lost and I don't want to see that. This is not education that was or or class sizes as we had when I went to elementary school. I had 70 in my class. Went to a Catholic school. Need I say more? But um as times have changed, technology has changed. Parents are working. They're not there for their kids. The teachers become responsible for these little ones. And I really think that a maximum of 28 should be looked at seriously. I even think a desired number of 25 is too high.
038So, I'll be voting no. I'm sorry. >> Peter, should I step on the limb here and say I agree with both of you. Um the >> Microphone. Sorry, not used to needing a microphone. The um I'm going to like I said before, I agree with both of you on this case, but my question is being a non-educator here, uh there has to be studies. There has to be something out there that'll tell us what the sweet spot is. We hear a lot of numbers here saying it's too much, it's not enough, we have money issues, we have child care issues, we have all that. I think I'm going to vote to pass it tonight to to get it moving. But I think we we need to set ourselves up so we can review this again
039somewhere not too far down the road and look at it and figure out what the new numbers are. I'm sure there were pre-COVID numbers back in the stone age when I went to school. the numbers were 30 or 40 or whatever the numbers were today. They may be making numbers up here. Three, four, five, whatever it is. So, whatever those numbers are, we we should instead of sitting here saying 25, 28, 26, 22, 21, what is the number? That's all I'm asking for. >> Thank you. Um I I'd like you agree with both of them, but I I do understand that we have to have some type of policy. One thing that does remain is that it says desired or guidelines and the board can always overrule those desired numbers or those guidelines. And that's
040kind of how it's been probably through all the years there. It has always been a guideline but not set in stone type of policy. And we've looked at the makeup of the classes too so that we know that maybe this will work but maybe you know it won't maybe 17 will work here or 25 but it won't work for that class. So I I I think we have to have a policy. I don't disagree with anybody because we want to do the best we can for each student, but we do have to have some type of policy. And I don't think it it's unheard of for us to look at something again down the road if we see that this is creating, you know, a problem for us educationally. So, I I will I'm going
041to support the policy, but I totally agree with both sides of it. Dr. is there any other questions from a board member questions? Okay. Okay. Um, so I just want to make sure everybody understands that the frame in this policy is to give us a guideline as Mrs. Van Dyke just said. And um, to answer you, Mr. Jippy, there were numbers and still exists for um districts of high poverty where we were required in the state of New Jersey to have no more than 21 students in a kindergarten class, no more than 23 in grades 1 through three and grades four and 5 24. So those numbers still exist for districts of high poverty. For all other school districts, we use that as a benchmark, but obviously it's not etched in stone. In some districts,
042we have very small class sizes because there are fewer children. In larger districts, sometimes those numbers are more challenging. So, I can tell you right now though, based on the numbers in our enrollment currently, as of today, there are no classes that reach 28 students at any grade in the elementary level. So, um please know that while that number 28 looks like a very scary number, it's not meant to be let's make classes of 28. That's that's art. We're not going past this, right? And sometimes we have challenges with space. Sometimes we have challenges with staffing. But right now, we're in good shape. And I want you to know that there are classes that also in a few cases are falling below the minimum number that's in this policy because the enrollment is not there
043at those grade levels. So, this policy is intended to give us a guide, but it is not intended to indicate that we in any way, shape, or form think that 28 students in a class in kindergarten is a good idea. Thank you. Roll call. >> Mr. Sidowitz, >> yes. >> Mr. Lippy, >> yes. >> Mrs. Rico, >> yes. >> Mrs. Van Dyk, >> yes. Mrs. Dyer, >> I'm going to abstain because I really want to see this revisited. >> Mrs. Lockwood, >> yes. >> Mrs. Romeo, >> yes. >> Motion carries. >> Hang on. We just voted on one through nine. >> Yeah. So, Terry, you have seemed on all them. >> Oh, no. Just number seven. >> Thank you. That's okay. Um, Mrs. Lockwood, negotiations, please. >> I make a motion to approve agenda item
044number one under negotiations. Okay. >> Questions and comments. Roll call, please. >> Mrs. Van Dyk, >> yes. >> Mrs. Lockwood, >> yes. >> Mr. Sidowitz, >> yes. >> Mr. Lippy, >> yes. >> Mrs. Rico, >> yes. >> Mr. Green, No, Mr. Go's not here. Mrs. Dwyer, >> yes. >> Mrs. Romeo, >> yes. >> Um, parks and wreck, we have not had a meeting. Safety, >> no meeting. >> Uh, superintendent round table. Um, we our first meeting of the new school year is on September 21st. So, I'll have a report after that. Thank you. For C County School Boards, uh, no meetings over the summer. The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, 20 the 26th of September, 6:00 to 8:30 at the Barnyard Carriage House in Torway. >> Thank you. um New Jersey school boards. >>
045So on Saturday, September 23rd at the New Jersey School Board Association Trenton headquarters and virtually being held uh mandated training day for governance 1 through 4 will be offered. So if you even for first term members uh with first year uh working towards their first year, you're able to take governance 2 and three, this is a good opportunity to do it. an easier opportunity to do it because it is on a a Saturday. So, I recommend it. Um, on Monday, October 23rd through Thursday, October 26th is the New Jersey School Board Association workshop. I recommend if you can attend even one day in person that that would be a great opportunity to network with people from around the state and learn from them what their issues are and what we all have in common. So,
046and also to get many more trainings done in a short period of time. Uh other items for the New Jersey School Board Association because we do have negotiations that are coming up that it based on our dues paid services. We can have our contracts uh looked at by their professionals. They call it a teacher contract wellness check and I could send the board the information that goes along with that. There's also a teacher salary guide wellness check where they give an overview and an opinion on our salary guide. And then there's uh paid services which I'm sure that's a little less tasteful for the board, but they have salary guide development services if need be. But being that we do have newer members and we are going into negotiations, it's something that may be worth
047hearing another opinion before going into those negotiations as to where our contracts are in their person professional opinions. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Lippy. Legislative >> Okay. And um technology oversight. >> Okay. Um we also have not had a township uh meeting. Uh municipal alliance um the m municipal alliance met on the 7th. Um the one thing that came up that's coming recent uh in the future is going to be the family wellness festival which is going to be held at Makipin and uh that's September 23rd and I think we might have a table there with our administrators. Yes, we're working on making sure that we do have a table. Dr. Reszan and I are kind of taking point on that and um we'll give the board more information as soon as we have
048it. >> Great. And that because the alliance works handinhand with our school district with the many programs. So that is wonderful that we're going to do something like that. That's what next meeting I believe is October 4th or something. I'm not sure but that's coming up. >> Thank you. and seat back, Miss Louard. >> The first meeting has been scheduled for September 26th at 700 p.m. at Maple Road. Okay. Um, we're going to move on to old business. Does anyone have any old business, Mr. Sids? So, I know that uh we have previously sent several letters to the P County Commissioners regarding excuse me um in regards to the P County Technical Institute's funding formula. Um I don't know much about it honestly and I think that it would behoove us if any of us
049knows a direction as to the uh governance of P County and how they would come up with the formula because hearing that all 21 counties have their own formula kind of was shocking. I figured it would be a state model versus a county bycounty model. So if anybody knows anything more, maybe we could share that before the next step comes of actually showing up to their meeting. So that's it for that one. I have a second thing unless anybody wants to comment on that. >> I do. I think there is a formula that the state county uses, but the commissioners put in a minimal amount. I think it's like 20% and the districts put in 80% of of um the funding for PCTI, but I'm not sure, but I think that's it. Am I right
050to you? >> No. What is the what what percent has something? >> Well, we we last year we met with other districts and um we went over this. It's the bud the budget that the county has for county school uh for BCACI has never changed. Am I correct? It's like $7 million and it's been that way probably for the last 20 years. It and it really is up to the commissioners >> to to set that that funding. >> But I thought it was the districts that pay the brunt of it. >> Well, they do, but it's it's really set by by your p county commissioners also. They used to like they used to be freeholders. That's the case. Their meetings are not very well advertised. >> No. >> And they're usually on the morning at
051like 9:00 a.m. usually comes out like the night before. It's very different way of I I think I don't know much about say county tech operations and their budget. I know that their tuitions are their revenue source. So, they do get state funding, but um I know that when they when they receive their state funding, they also have been adjusting their tuition. So, they've pretty much in a holding pattern as far as um I think it actually went down this year when they finally um finalized their budget that um we didn't see the increase that we've been seeing in the past. But I think they've recognized the fact that they have more students now than they had before, which um you know helps offset some of their costs because the more students you have in
052your class, you're lower the lower is your per pupil cost. >> State aid. >> Yes, they do. They get they get a substantial amount of state aid because um the governor feels strongly about funding technical education. And unfortunately, a lot of the high schools have had to reduce their their old shop and technical educational programs because they're costly to maintain. West Milford is one of the few districts that have been able to maintain their um their their wood shop and their mechanical drawing and things like that. And and they've they've revised the curriculums, right, Dan? Through the years to adjust for technology and and now we're doing STEM. um they've changed the requirements for um C certification for staff members, but I know that um we're trying desperately to keep up with everything and we
053have some really good programs here. We have culinary arts, we have so many of the things that you know PCTI has been able to offer. Um but some you know people just prefer to go to that institution but yes they do get a lot of funding from the state. >> I thought that I thought there was a formula that was talked about in the school board. >> I I I don't remember I I honestly in the meetings that we had I don't remember a formula being put out there. it. The only thing that was mentioned during those meetings was that the budget for PCTI from the county has not changed in at least 15 years. So it like Barbara said, I'm sure they have to make up their costs wherever that amount and it's not
054a big amount where other counties maybe foot the full bill for for the schools because they're not as big. It it it really it really depends on county. And that surprised me too that there isn't like a set rate that each county has to have, but I guess it goes by the the amount of population and the you know how many kids are in the schools. I don't know. But that there was like a committee that got together through New Jersey school boards and um myself and Debbie O'Brien went mo we went three times but then the committee kind of fizzled out because So I'm going to ask um uh the two people on Pate County co school boards is um Mrs. Manike and Mrs. Lockwood. Correct. Um is there someone that you that runs
055that? guys are like a president of the PCT like that of the Pate County Schoolboards that you could email and ask them to send us any information any meeting notes from the past that they would have or and then that way we could have factual information that was provided in a meeting. Would that be okay? >> I I I can reach out to Jeff again and Debbie may Debbie may have the information that came from that meeting. I don't I don't have it in my head off hand, but there's a gentleman named Jeff who's been probably a school board member for 35 years. >> Okay. And do you know who I'm talking about? And he he has been a big he's been behind pushing. He's part of um um uh not you know North Hen
056um >> Mr. Fisher >> Manchester. Yes. >> Yeah. >> He's wonderful. >> And then the next thing is um I'm going to just ask them if we could put that as a topic on operations and finance um for September please. So, anything that anyone gets um if you could um forward it to um Mrs. Francisco um Dr. Fenari and myself and then we will have it for the next committee meeting. >> Uh you had one other thing. >> Um with the academic su uh success committee, I almost couldn't say that. Um, is there a potential of a part two to that for this school year just as a followup to to the findings and any quantifiable measures that could come from that? Doesn't have to be answered tonight. I'm just curious. >> I'm going to
057uh stop you there. Um, we requested in the spring that they come to a committee meeting. Do you remember that? >> Mhm. >> And that didn't happen yet. So, thank you for bringing it up in old business because the next step was that we were going to have them come to a committee meeting, but then we got a new superintendent um and it didn't happen yet. So, um that is also for hopefully the September possibly October agenda for education, right? And then so in committee we would discuss that presentation discuss you know and then if we saw after committee that we wanted another presentation we would we would talk about it there. >> I just think that it it started out on a good footing and that in New Jersey school boards association one of
058the big things that they talk about is the lighthouse study where boards that focus on education have better educational results. And I think that if we just keep hammering that as a board with in uh cooperation with the administration, I think that we can continue on a good stride. >> Thank you. I want to comment. I I absolutely agree and um I appreciate that you brought that up again. I do think that there were some um let's say some untied places from the spring of some things that we said that we would revisit that we need to just close up and and work on and that is definitely one of them. Um and um we will be very busy in the next couple months. Okay. Um does anyone have anything else under old business? Go
059ahead, Mrs. Dwire. Um what are the plans to reach out to the township council regarding Illustr We've um we're in communication with them. Barbara um if she did not go ahead we did send out an RFP for the um feasibility study. We do have some proposals. Um Mrs. San Andre and I um have emailed back and forth What I am going to do is provide him with a copy of the proposals that he re we received and our committee has to get together to review the proposals also and then come together to the to determine how you're going to award the um RFP. >> Okay. So um the members of the committee will have to come up with a time where we can meet on the short term because >> we have to decide within
06060 days and it's been about 3 weeks and there's been a lot going on at the township and here so we have to make that decision. >> Thank you Mrs. Styer. Yeah and that is in the notes from operation in finance on the second page. Um, any other old business? >> Um, >> I'm not sure if this is considered old business, but I guess it's the best place to um say it. I just wanted to thank Mrs. Francisco for stepping in uh last month and um volunteering to step in and be our acting superintendent to keep us in compliance with the county. Not only did you step in and take over a very busy month while still uh doing your regular job, you also didn't want any compensation um for your additional duties. Thank you.
061[Applause] >> Thank you. Um, I need a motion. >> Move to close business. >> Second. >> All in favor? I. >> Any opposed? >> Um, any new business? Go ahead, Mr. S. >> It's something I thought on the way here. Um, it's not necessarily business that we're going to bring to the table and vote on eventually. It's more along the lines of if the board can get a schedule of the standardized testing that we're going to see uh in this upcoming school year. Uh I think that that would help us to kind of all gear ourselves to what to expect and how we how we essentially quantify uh success. Right or wrong is just how it is. Nature of the beast. But uh if >> I believe you have it. >> Yeah. >> Um I'll
062I'll reshare it. Sorry, >> just a busy month. >> Just for clarification, every year the Department of Education requires all school districts to post to the public their testing calendar. So, uh, we certainly have that set and we'll be able to reshare with you. >> Excellent. Thank you. >> Any other new business? >> I move to close new business. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. Any opposed? Okay, we are at our second public comment of the night. 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've requested to speak prior to the meeting will be recognized by the chair first. After speaking, all speakers are asked to send the register
063provided give their name, group affiliation, and their address. All statements shall be directed to the presiding officer. No participant may address or question board members individually. All speakers are expected to have read the statement within the agenda regarding the regulations concerning public comments. Members of the public are reminded that they are legally responsible and liable for their comments. Do we have anyone that would like to speak? Miy >> Okay. Christina Duffy, 25 Warick Turnpike in Huitt. Um, I have a middle schooler, Lord help me. Um, and a Marshall Hill student. Um, so it's less comment and more open question to you. So, you've passed this policy relative to class size. And my question back to you, kind of what you were speaking to, Linda. Um, when do you revisit and how do you revisit? Are
064you doing proactive revisit? Are you doing reactive revisit? Um, and I guess along the same lines, should you be in a position where these policy limits are stretched, i.e. you have to close another school and we do we do have to like move into these bigger class sizes, how do you measure efficacy and at what period is that measured? My total concern here is not so much short-term, which there will be short-term impact. We're going to see it right away. It's more long-term. It's like these kids four, five, 6 years down the line who didn't get caught in K in one or whatever. Now, what are we doing? Now, what are we seeing? How much um how much do we have to, you know, give forth to help them get to where they need to
065be? That's really my concern. I'll give you anecdotal evidence and it's not related to huge class size. My youngest is dyslexic, right? in kindergarten and I would imag maybe maybe in first grade. I think in kindergarten she was screened, right? Blew the screen. My very dyslexic child blew the screen and flew under the radar for a while. So if that happens to my kid in a smaller classroom, what happens to the other kids in the bigger classroom? And it's not just the read learning the reading disabilities, it's your ADHDs, it's or whatever else is going on for these kids. So that's really where my head is at with this. And I just ask you as you're considering these policies, please put some criteria in for yourselves to help kind of manage and rein that in.
066So that's it. We need like a jar up here. Um, >> Mrs. Frederick's, >> how you doing? >> Good. How are you? >> This might be a little >> state your name and your address. >> Your group affiliation time. >> That's okay. Hey, it's Joe Marie Frederick's 38 West Shore Road. That's Milford, retired school bus driver. I know you all, some of you, drove some of yours, but um right now I come before you for a request. Right now, I am working on the class of 73 50th class reunion. Okay? and we had a meeting today and my committee members some of them you might know I have uh Celeste Peterson Nap Ramona van Dunk Platt Pete Anselone Steve de Georgees and Debbie Corsac and myself the six of us um we were speaking today
067at the meeting and we want to get the approval from everybody first we'd like to plant a tree in memory of the students classmates we lost. We lost 38 people out of our class. We would like to plant a tree at Mccapin. That's where we graduated from. And we also would like to put a plaque in memory of them. I wanted to come before you and ask you first because I guess the tree would have to be planted before the reunion. The reunion is planned for October 14th at El Palazos. We have 70 people coming already from our class. That's great. But you know, I figured I would come before you first and ask you and maybe you can get back to us. >> Love it. Would you be able to um email again uh
068Mrs. Francisco, Dr. and myself and then um they'll go through the proper um places and in the email um you've you've quite the crew there that's going to be some party let me tell you um >> they're from from we have the farthest we have is from Washington state >> yeah that's awesome >> um but so in the email I would request that you be as specific you are very specific already with at makipin with a plaque if you have a place that you're thinking and then they can discuss it and then they will get back to you in an email is that Okay. >> Yeah, that's fine. We were thinking basically they said like a tree that would bloom. >> Yeah. >> You know what I mean? Something to remember them by, >> you
069know, and we figure we if we do it before the reunion then um we can take a picture and we give it to everybody. It's awesome. And let them know. So, it's it's coming along pretty good. 50 years is a long time. >> Meet people. >> Yeah. >> This is probably going to be out. It's probably going to be our last reunion, you know. >> Yeah. >> But we tried to come. We tried to make it the day of the um football game, the homecoming, >> but we couldn't get the venue. >> But some of us are coming to the game because we got t-shirts we had made up for the 50th class reunion. The gray and has everybody's name on the back. Some of us are going to show up to the homecoming game.
070>> Yeah, that is awesome. >> Okay, so I'll do that. I'll get the email out. I was going to ask you if they were going to the football game. >> Yeah. >> Stand up and have the voice of the Highlanders give them a shout out during the game. >> Yeah. >> Maybe flip the We'll work on it. >> That would be nice. Thank you. Maybe, you know, but I'm not come anything about the school bus. I'm going >> She just hired a little substitute. >> No, thank you. I actually I gave him my license. >> Well, you could always get it back cuz you know what you're doing, right? You know what, Barbara? I actually I work more now. My family says I work more now than I did when I drove to school because
071I'm watching three grandkids every day. >> So, well, thank you for bringing this to our attention. It's very cool. >> Is there anyone else that would like to speak? >> I move to close public comments. Sorry. >> All in favor? >> I. Any opposed? Okay. Um, Mrs. Awood, we do have an executive uh session. No action will be taken. Um, and we'll be there for um 40 minutes. >> Will we adjourn? >> We will adjourn from executive session. Um, so would you mind reading that? Sure. Thank you. So, at Yep. Um, what are we talking? Do you want me to read it also? Okay. At 8:06 p.m., I make a motion to go into executive session for the purpose of discussing personnel appointments, resignations, current litigation matters, special education matters, negotiations, and matters of attorney
072client privilege. The executive session minutes will not be released until such time as the privilege or confidentiality is no longer applicable. The board will be in executive session for 40 minutes. No action will be taken. So we will yeah we'll adjourn from executive session. Um all in favor oh second. All in favor? [Applause] >> Any opposed? Have a great night. Thank you.