Board of Education Meeting 5/2/23

001I'll call the meeting to order. I'd like to ask me I'd like to ask for a moment of silence. Please keep um the Ginder family and the Gillan family in our thoughts. I salute for the flag. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. In accordance with the provisions of the open public meetings act, 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 division of Warwick, and West Milford TV77. and posted in the administration building. Copies of the board meeting calendar resolution were provided to

002all local media, town hall, township, library, and all district schools. Roll call, please. >> Mrs. Ricardo here, Mr. Sus >> here, >> Mr. Mr. Whippy >> here, >> Mrs. Brier here, Mr. Rio >> here, >> Mrs. O'Brien here, Mrs. Lley here, Mrs. Van Dyke here, Mrs. Romeo here. Uh Dr. Superintendent report [Applause] All right, good morning members of education, members of the community. Uh we have our final last step of the 2023 24 budget cycle tonight uh with the public hearing on the budget. um through a board of education or volunteer board of education both time and energy put in over the past few months. I I always tell people what you see at the board meeting is the tip of the iceberg is a whole lot more I look into. So thank you board.

003So this budget has not changed a lot since uh we were here in March as a preliminary budget. Um, we called it a fiscally responsive budget because it responds to a lot of outside factors that we kind of got over and time again. Um, just for >> everyone, can you hold the microphone? >> Sure. Thank you. And everyone else not. You want one? All right. So, can you hear me now? Any feedback? Okay. >> So, this is adjust for escalated costs in contracted transportation, which is something that we deal with, which has gone up a lot over the past probably year and a half. Health insurance costs are rising dramatically. Energy costs on top of everything else that we do where everything we do next year costs more than it did this year. So the

004total budget is going to increase by 2 and a.5%. The general front just a little bit more 2.58%. We've mentioned this before and I'll mention it again. This is year six of the 7-year phase in of the new state funding formula that we call S2. Um the cumulative state reduction is over 9 million now. I anticipate it to be over 10 million um when you're here 12 months from now. So it makes funding everything very difficult because our rare music. So our curriculum highlights no just going to say brief. This really hasn't changed much since March either, but there was a lot of people not here. So yeah, I uh I'm fortunate I get to talk about some of the fun parts uh of the budget. Uh we are continuing to um enhance our dual

005enrollment courses. We have a number of courses in our um in our program of study that are pending based on enrollment. We've added um we've added programs like our aviation course and our which I believe would be um scheduled 4 and one for for next school year which is exciting. We didn't know when you offer you know a course like this if if you're going to have interest. Um so that's been uh that's been a positive. Uh, one of the, um, programs that have been really successful this year is the, uh, training with Nancy Schultz and Conquer Math out of, uh, out of Popronic. We've, um, we started this last year where we wanted to do a K through 12 initiative to, um, work with our staff, work with our mathematics staff for best practices

006and in standardsbased instruction. Uh, they've been they've been really uh, you know, the collaboration between Nancy Schultz and our staff has just been tremendous. uh we're continuing with that path. We have a uh number of grade levels who will be completing that training this year. We have probably 75% more of that who started this this year being year one and they'll have their second year next year. Uh and we do have a small group of courses in grade levels who will be starting that process for the first time next year. So it's it's pretty typically about a four or five year process to complete the the school district. Uh and that's that's uh you know one of the exciting things we have. Uh we've really looked to um support our robotics program. We added uh

0073D printer. We added a PC to uh work with the with 3D printer. Uh I've also been in discussions with um our elementary schools to you know a number of years ago we supported clubs robotics clubs at the elementary level. uh at this this time a lot of those materials are are dated and need of replenishment. So, we're going to be looking to update and and replace some of those items. Uh two of the most exciting um that I that I like to talk about tonight are um funded through um our our access to stabilization funds. Uh Barb has explained many times stabilization funds are um you know for one-time purchases and and big ticket items that you wouldn't typically be able to do one year in a in the budgeting process. Uh the first

008one is the uh replacement of our K5 match program. Uh we are um near the end end stages of selecting the program. our staff has narrowed it down to three and we're, you know, going through other districts and and taking visits in and other schools and, you know, seeing which program fits fits our needs the best. Uh, a more recent development is the discussion with uh our district literacy committee in regard to uh potential replacement of our uh language arts program K5, not for next year, but pos potentially for the 2425 school year. Uh, so we started that process. We've um you know been been looking to build upon the success of our phonics program in K through2. Uh part of next year's budget is going to include training for staff members who have changed

009grade levels over the years and have not had that initial training for our our successful phonics program. Uh that is included in next year's budget and um you know training follow-up training for staff members who were trained many you know many years ago. Refresh training is something that they call it. Uh so we're really looking for big changes in our K5 uh mathematics and and ELA program. Uh know knowing science, it's a program that uh began a number of years ago. We have finished the process of bringing in all of those new materials. It was a three-year uh it was a three-year process. We are now in uh possession of all the units that we have for that program. And now we're in the uh replenishment cycle. So, in next year's school budget, we've included

010something called the uh common items kits, which would be like thermometers, solar panels, you know, to to power a solar powered car, baking soda, popsicle sticks, all those types of things that um that our staff need to to keep these uh units of stuff going um you know, throughout the course of the year. And then uh last but not least, we actually completed um the first step of our transition to uh putting our intervention and referral services onto our student information system, which we call real time. Uh all of our plans are now up to date and they're on the system. And the next step of that is building uh building our student intervention plans using our uh using our system, which is a has been a goal of ours this year. And and we're

011we're at the step of of taking that to the next level. And uh that's my >> so our budget basics uh we split our budget revenues and expenses. Uh the problem is one is going up and one is going down. So our revenues defined across the board uh obviously except for our local tax levy which is set by the board of education. Uh the tax the tax levy is capped at 2% plus allowable adjustments which we are putting into the budget. recommended to be in the budget for next year. Our state aid has declined by just under 1.2 million. However, hold on to that number for a couple slides ahead. Um our fund balance is declining this year. It will um most likely decline again 12 months from now. We do the 2425 budget. Our

012expenses on the other hand are going up. Salaries, benefits, transportation, everything we do costs more year over year. Different budget lines go up by a significant amount. Salaries may go up 2.7% but health benefits could go up 22%. Contracted transportation could go up 45%. So there's a whole lot of different increases that we deal with to get the budget wrangled. Um this is our state reductions cumulative over the last six years and as you can see here I left this blank for next year will most likely be over 10 million. um as a percentage of our budget. The state used to cover about a quarter of our budget. This is where we are now about 7.5%. I anticipate it going down to very close to 5% for next year. So $1 and $4 here one

013at about $20 next year. However, that $1.2 $2 million reduction in state aid. Since the preliminary budget, there was a new law passed that allowed districts to apply for additional state aid for 2/3 of the amount produced. So, we submitted that application. It was approved at the last board meeting. That's just under $800,000. So, that money for the state reduction is basically 1.2 million minus $800,000. So, you just back that out. Um, we believe this is a one-time revenue source. I would not recommend using it to support ongoing annual costs with your typical personnel. You can use that money. It might be more prudent to use that money to support one time only is one time only items in your budget because the one time only item you purchase now, you don't need to purchase

014it next year and this revenue is unlikely to be there 12 months from now. um health insurance costs. This chart changed a little bit, but this just gives you an idea of how much we're spending on our staff's health insurance costs. Um there was a new law went to place a couple years ago which really limited the employee contributions. So this is what we received from our employees in terms of contributions. It's very flat and these are our health insurance costs. So it's a much steeper increase. So a higher percentage of the health insurance costs is absorbed by the district due to this new law. So our local tax levy, remember it's not on the total budget. It's just on the tax. This is on the taxes. So it's 2% plus allowable adjustments which we

015have in there. So total is just under 4.5%. At West Milford, we have about four out of $5 come from local taxes. So we're getting about 2% of 80%. Not 2% of 100%. So that local tax levy is about what we we we'd normally get from well it's just over a million dollars and you know when our study is being reduced um due to some large increases in health insurance. We are eligible for a tax levy increase which brings the final budget tax levy increase to be just under 4 and a.5% 4.48%. 48%. Which is much higher than we've had the previous couple of years, but we just feel it's not sustainable to keep us such a low number. So, um the 12-year average is still low, still below 2%. Um but it is increasing.

016However, this number will most likely drop again next year because the allowable adjustments may not be there. So, preliminary budget for next year, local taxes going up 4.48%. The general fund increases by 2.5%. This is where we This is the revenues we're getting in. As you can see, the state aid here that was reduced. This does not include the stabilization aid that we just applied for. Um >> uh Alex, can you take a step to your right? So, >> sorry. And our revenues, this is how we're spending our money. As you know, the money in has to equal the money out and the money out has to equal the money in its so everything has to balance. This is a balanced budget. Um a little bit higher tax levy increase than we're accustomed to in

017this community. Um but we feel there are a lot of reductions in the budget already and further reductions to the tax levy may may compromise that. Speaking of taxes, um the average increase on school taxes, this is the median home. It's $235 per year, just under 20 per month. That's the median home. If you have a home that's assessed at more than that, your tax increase will be more. If you have a house assessed lower than that number, your tax increase will be less than that. We do have capital projects included in the budget. And again, these are typically one time only costs. Um, so you really shouldn't worry too much about the bleaches at Kill Gallon Fields. Uh, we have some projects in Min and U and UGL. Um, we do have original windows

018at UGL that are over 50 years old now. single pane glass, very energy inefficient. Um, same with some of our older doors. So, we feel as though investing money into the envelope of our buildings is always a good is always a wise uh a good return on investment. Proposed reductions um they're also on the agenda for tonight. Uh they're across all different categories from administration to teachers, elementary, middle, high school, transportation, custodian, and then general cuts to club, supplies, athletics, professional development, etc. So we spread these cuts out as as balanced as we could across the board. Um so pretty much every group, pretty much every school, pretty much every level is affected by these elections. Anybody in the board have any any questions? Have um have you looked at I I see cuts throughout

019the district for staff and and um faculty. Have you looked at any possible cuts for Central office. We've had cuts. So what we try to do here is whatever was cut last year, we try not to cut again and we try to balance it out. So mostly it to cut from the same group year after year is just uh comes very difficult. So we've had a few cuts there the past few years. This year there are no cuts in central office. The previous few years there have been some and looking into the future there might be additional but there are none in this budget. >> If I could add to that Mr. um it's a little difficult um since Our responsibilities are not based upon the number of students that are in the schools. Our

020responsibilities are based upon the compliance that we have been required by the state of New Jersey. Um over the last few years we have lost staff members and if you recall um I guess it was two budget cycles ago we actually took um two secretarial positions and combined them. And it was important that we took one from the high school and one from central office combined the two positions to create one. And that person is currently in central office. Um I have to say that we've and you've heard me mention this through the years. We've had a hard time crossraining people because we just don't have enough um time to be able to get that done because as additional workload comes up from the state of New Jersey, we've been adding it to the individuals

021that are more most aligned with the type of requirements that we have to provide. um for us to eliminate a position and disperse that work among the remaining staff could be very problematic. Um you saw two two budget uh two two meetings ago the auditors came in and spoke about our annual audit and they um fact that we we had no um comments on the audit. Um that's not by accident. is because the people there are well trained and they've been very diligent about working with the schools to make sure that they are compliant with the requirements that the auditors are going to be looking for. >> Thank you. So Barbara, maybe you can help myself the public understand um back Alex said back on slide 8 2008 2009 we've received 25% of our budget

022right from from the state and now we're down to like 7 and 12%. And then on slide 12 it says 80% of our revenues come from local tax levy. So the chart saying 7 and a half% the other 12 1.5% can you explain what is that like the debt service and like where is that money going? So I'm just trying to do math. 80% >> is a tax levy. If we're only getting seven and a half from the state and the other 80% is coming from we have we have reserve accounts. >> That's what I'm asking. So >> we have reserve accounts that that um the capital projects that we were having that we have done um the money is being taken the bulk of the money is being taken from our capital reserve account.

023We also have a maintenance reserve account and we use um part of that money every year to offset our maintenance costs. Our maintenance costs are in our general fund and because we have our own carpenter and plumber and electrician um and we do a lot of the repair work rather than having to go out and um hire companies that are going to do work for us on prevailing wage. um it's a cost savings for the district to have their own skilled um people here. So >> part of that is also that $788,000 rate that we're getting. >> No, no, that $788,000 is a totally separate funded money. >> That's what I'm saying. That goes back. I guess that could be a little bit higher. >> It's not factored in our current budget. the budget that

024you're being presented tonight, that $788,000 of uh supplemental aid is a totally separate bucket of money. It's a so totally separate bank account. So, you have to think um I think it might be easier to think in terms of bank accounts. um your your general fund is your checking account and your maintenance reserve and your capital reserve are your savings account. So you can add money to those accounts and you can build those accounts up for those times that you need it. uh the supplemental aid that you were fortunate enough to get will be if we don't use it then that can either be then appropriated into one of your maintenance accounts or you can drop that into fund balance so that you can use that to support a future budget. >> Doesn't have to

025be used this year. >> It does not have to be used. However, you know, we had to earmark areas that could be that it could cover um when we applied for it. And um the areas that we earmarked were onetime expenses that were not included in the 2324 budget but would be beneficial to have such as um repeaters for transportation because we're having a problem communicating uh with the buses with our radios and the radios themselves are getting older. So even though we have equipment um that equipment needs to be replaced and if you're buying it all at the same time so that everybody has the same thing then you have to replace them all at the same time and that becomes um balancing act. >> Thank you. >> Any other questions real quick? Next

026portion of the meeting is 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 address or question board members individually. All speakers are expected to have read the statement within the agenda regarding the resolutions concerning public comments. Members of the public are reminded that they are united, responsible, and liable for their comments. Mr. Francisco, has anyone signed up to speak? >> Yes. Our first

027person is Lee Moore. [Applause] >> Oh, is the red light. >> Good evening. I was one of the students who spoke here last week regarding the budget cuts on the Italian program. I just wanted to take a minute to thank the board for listening to the students and parents at school last week. I'm excited to be given the opportunity to finish out my Italian curriculum with the West Mford High School. It is very encouraging to see that the students can make a difference. I am also saddened to know that many dedicated teachers are losing their jobs due to the budget cuts. I hope the district finds ways to avoid this in the future. Every cut is an opportunity taken away from the students. Why should parents be enrolling their children into the West Mford School

028District if these students aren't getting the same opportunities as other schools in the state? These teachers have dedicated their time into the district and into creating a powerful envir environment for their students. Many of my past elementary school teachers are here tonight and I have so much gratitude for how much they have impacted my life. The proposal to increase elementary school classes is very concerning. How can the teachers do their job and the students receive the proper education? I hope the board of education reconsiders this proposal. I hope that students continue to have an impact in our district as I will continue to advocate what is best for the students and the teachers. Thank you and good night. [Applause] Um, just sign that address. Thank you. >> And you don't have to write your address.

029You could just write your name because you're a student. That's okay. Thank you. Nice speaker. Dr. Bell. Good evening. Dr. Murkoff, resident at 34 Central Street. It's 9:15 p.m. I'm typing this letter for open public comment when my children are asleep upstairs. I should be also asleep upstairs. Many people have told me, "Enjoy them while they're young." Little kids, little problems. Big kids, big problems. Yet, I feel like I'm already facing big problems. That big problem is their education, their futures. Instead, I am here at my computer pleading with the board of ed to reconsider all the cuts they are proposing due to declining enrollment, efficiency, and the current economy. Yes, insurance premiums are rising. Yes, the cost of diesel is rising. But haven't we technically become more efficient now that we are operating one

030less elementary school? I trusted you. I cried with you, pleading with you for 9 months, and I'm exhausted. Aren't you tired of always having to chop everyone down and everything down? This reactive approach must stop now. I pray that our incoming superintendent comes with fresh ideas and an open mind and the experience needed to deal with our district's problems. We need some new blood, new ideas. We need grant money. If you take, take, take take, you will have nothing left to give. And soon your residents will see that and move elsewhere or send your children to PCTI. As you have told us many times before, if there's less student enrollment, we will get even less state aid official cycle. How are we here again? and so quickly after closing the school and being awarded $1.3

031million in stabilization aid. What about the school funding bill that Governor Murphy rushed to put into effect for next year when we have been allocated that additional $788,000? Thank you for explaining that by the way. Appreciate it. But other districts like Vernon have received this leftover CO funding not once but twice. I heard we missed the vote on that. We need to take swift action to start this grant writing program or hire someone externally as quickly as humanly possible as many towns like us are trying to find funding for their public schools too. We are one out of the 160 districts that are benefiting from the school funding bill. But why aren't we actually benefiting? positions that are going to be eliminated. As you mentioned, multiple teaching positions including English and math in middle and

032high school levels, guidance counselors, encore team, child study team, media specialists, nursing staff, and special education teachers. When is it enough? My thought process is that these positions were created for a reason. They have a purpose. They have a need. Yes, if enrollment decreases and there is one less elementary school, positions have to be eliminated. But aren't class sizes going to increase, even if it's only slightly? How is it possible that we need this much less staff? How is it possible to even consider reducing the amount of middle school guidance counselors? That's when students need it most during those emotionally charged years. My husband and I moved here for a reason. Like so many other residents that have told you before, there are so many wonderful things about our town. Our education system, though, taking

033a nose dive. We are rated four out of 10 at best. I know I'm stating the obvious. Our average math proficiency score is significantly less than the state average. If you continue to cut staff, cut programs, you are taking away their opportunity to succeed. If you take away a language, you are eliminating their opportunity to take an AP class and get into a better college. You take all that away and we are still facing financial turmoil. Something needs to change. Someone needs to go. [Applause] Thank you. >> Hi, my name is Ellis. I live at 307 and I'm a freshman at the Westminster High School. I've been listening closely to what's happening to the district and what I've been competing classes in high school. Even though it looks like Business classes are no longer a

034proposed cut. I still to share my thoughts. Last nighting period, I took a business class fashion merchandising in this marketing period. I'm in hospitality tours. At the last boarding board meeting, sorry, I was informed that the business classes will be cut this year, but will not continue in the next couple of years. Tonight, I want to tell you why I think the business classes. We need business classes only. Business class business is done everywhere and it's been happening for me. So to do so we need to learn how to do it. The business classes that the high school offers are accounting for business, personal finance, hospitality and tourism, fashion merchandising, marketing, entrepreneurship and small business management and sports entertainment. These classes are all requirements to graduate. So if the district cuts it, what will the

035students do as a district? The classes are important not only for credits but they also show life skills. The accounting for business gives the students a perspective for making wise financial decisions. Entrepreneurship and small business management introduces rewards and risks of owning a small business. It helps students organize, manage and plan a business. Personal finance is managing your own money and making wise decisions in taxes, banking, credit and debit cards, insurance, and etc. Hospitality and tourism gives students an overview of lodging, food and beverage, recreation, attractions, travel and tourism. In this class, the students learn about employable skills, skills, operations, and consumer um relations. Fashion merchandising gives students history of evolution in the business of fashion from the 19th century to present day. Marketing gives a basic introduction to the principles of marketing. It shows

036advertising, promotion and market research. It shows the students of making ethical decisions in the business world. Finally, sports and entertainment marketing is a unique course that shows the fundamentals of practical appliances and marketing in sports entertainment industry. As you can see, we need these classes to prepare us for the real world. Like I said last month in theory if I took a business class fashion fashion merchandising in this month in theory I'm in hospitality. I was informed that this class was being cut and I knew that I would have to have a chance to do something. Business is set everywhere and it has been happening forever. The business classes that the high school offers should stay in the high school so that incoming students and the students already in the high school can be ready

037when they're doing business in the future which is coming up very soon. Mrs. Claus is the business teacher here at the West Milford High School and is a maiden. I would hate to see her lose her job because she makes learning fun and gets the job done. This is why I believe business classes should not be tough. [Applause] Is there someone else that would like to speak? >> Seeing like public comment second. All >> in favor. Any opposed? Okay. Agenda ready to be adopted. Okay. I need someone to adopt the agenda. Like to make a motion to adopt the agenda as presented. Second. >> All in favor? >> Any opposed? >> Okay. Um Mr. Greeno, operations and finance. >> I would like to move item number one. for operations. >> Any questions or comments? >>

038Yeah, I'd like to I'd like to make a statement. Um, seven seven years ago when I was the first elected to the West Milford Board of Education. I vowed to build and preserve an academic environment that's so necessary for a successful school district. As I review this budget, I am disheartened by the failure of this administration to create such a balanced learning arena for our children. First, there's this the the uh decision of restructuring Westbrook school and redistricting our children. The lead administrators who have been extremely instrumental in creating this plan are leaving our district while not seeing the plan through to its fruition. The redistricting, I'm sorry, the redistricting in concert with the decision has been inequitable and I feel unfair. The savings meanwhile are minimal. Secondly, the administration has failed to seriously consider

039class size of the high school and their decision to eliminate staff. Allowing elective classes to continue with enrollments of less than 12 students is a problem for me. At least two of these programs can be run as afterchool clubs as they have been done in the past. Our math scores are not competitive with the other districts and our ELA scores are falling. We cannot blame CO as other districts also experience the CO problem. Onetoone Chromebooks are only a tool. The this administration has neglected the support that our middle school and high school media specialists provide every day for our children and these tools. In the forever quest to increase AP courses we offer and the number of students that participate in these challenging classes. How dare we not provide the research capability to succeed in

040these areas? We have invested an enormous amount of money with Shelley Klein and the Columbia Teachers College and now we have dropped the ball and are not reinforcing reading in grades 6 through 12, something that media specialists do in a number of ways. And for these reasons, I am not supporting this budget. [Applause] Well, I'll be voting in favor of this budget that increases the general property tax levy by 4 1.5%. Yes, the same trustee that voted for the second of the 0% general tax levy increases in the 2017 to 18 school year. I didn't regret that choice then, just as I won't regret this choice now. to support this budget. I wanted to justify this vote by understanding how we even got to this point and what we should do next. Because in my

041heart and mind, this is the most critical juncture in not only our district's future, but our township's future. I love West Milford, and I'm not alone in that sentiment. From the census of 1920, West Milford grew and grew until we reached our high water residency in the 2000 census of 26,410 residents. And by April of 2004, the 2004 to 2005 school budget was prepared for a student body of 4,270 students, the district's high water mark. Shortly thereafter, in August of 2004, Governor McGrevy signed the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act, which severely limited the residential and commercial development of Highlands protected townships. This new legislation gave West Milford the unique distinction of being 100% within this protected region. From 2004 onward, our township's population and our district's enrollment began to decline. In 2005, the first

042of seven superintendent in an 11-year period would retire in his seventh year of administering a growing school district. And by 2008, a second superintendent would retire. In July of 2008, the School Funding Reform Act was signed into law by Governor Cororsine. We sit here today upset that this legislation went into effect, but I'm not. We have school districts in our state that are truly underfunded and our school district needs to confront the extensive loss of student enrollment. 2008 also welcomed an unwelcome trend of short tenure superintendent with two of the next five superintendent being interim per deem superintendent. In 2008, the district's third superintendent arrived. I consider the years that followed the revolving door years. The 2008 to 2009 school budget was met with the incredible challenge of the 2008 financial crisis. And by September

04329, 2008, the Dow fell over 777 points. The ensuing recession had deep impact on our country, our state, and the township. One impact was the delayed implementation of the school funding reform act. In June 2010, Governor Christie signed the state legislation that reigned in the state's high property taxes by reducing the property tax levy cap from 4% to 2%. And allowed for increases to be banked for three succeeding years. In 2010, the door revolved for a fourth time with an interim superintendent that lasted two years. This superintendent had a 2010 to11 school enrollment of 3,975 students, a decrease of 745 students from the high water mark. The census year 2010 also noted a township population decline of 560 residents. Our township's challenges were taking their toll and the town's commercial and residential vacancy rates continue

044to grow. There was a bright note that year. 2010 also marked the district getting a new business administrator, Barbara Francisco. Little did she know at the time she would be a cornerstone of continuity for a district with changing superintendent and growing challenges. The board of 2010 discussed the idea of closing a school. In order to gather the appropriate facts, Ross Haber and Associates was hired to perform a demographic and redistricting study for the district. Despite the declining enrollment being concluded, no school was recommended for closure at the time. In the year 2012, the township and district underwent additional changes and challenges. The township council of 2011 determined that a revaluation of the mun municipalities properties was needed after the last revaluation was conducted in 1988. The resulting valuations began in January of 2012 and saw

045the property taxes of some homes doubling. In the course of the fifth year or in the course of that year, a fifth superintendent was hired by the district. In the same year, stability was brought to our school district and other districts in our state when legislation was passed that allowed for school boards to change their election dates from April to November. In October of 2012, the West Milford School Board resolved to change its election. The most important part of this legislation was that school budgets no longer needed public approval. The 2013 to 14 school year continued the trend of declining enrollment with 3,627 students, a 1,93 student decline from the 2004 to 2005 peak. By the 2014 to 15 school year, the fifth superintendent, an interim superintendent, took the reigns of a district whose enrollment

046declined an additional 62 students or 1,155 students from our district's height. 2015 to 16 dropped an additional 93 students. And then in 2016 to 17, 97 more students were lost. Not only were the demographic projections of 2010 being met, they were unfortunately being exceeded. By the 2016 to 17 school year, the district finally saw stability in its seventh superintendent, Dr. Animal. His ensuing tenure allowed for a consistent vision that could finally be laid out for his first school year. The controversial 0% tax increase was previously approved by the board of 2016. I will absolutely admit that 0% increases could and often do have negative long-term consequences. Due to the relatively stable inflation at the time, this 0% increase had the effect of a 2% decrease. Budget freezes can result in capital projects and required maintenance

047to be deferred. Reserve and fund accounts may end up being depleted or fall short of their purpose of undertaking future projects. However, tax increases have the opposite exponential effect of a 0% tax, where a 2% increase the following year is on top of a larger baseline tax levy. In hindsight, the 2016 board had great reasons for aiming at this objective. The Highlands Act essentially froze our tax base. This tax base continued to have a significant vacancy rate. The school district needed to confront a restructuring due to the decreased enrollment of 1,345 students from its and the budget's personnel salaries were unsustainable for the district's financial future. Through hard work and a strong exchange of ideas, the 0% tax increase was unanimously accomplished. This 0% increase maintains small class sizes, community schools, and the academic objectives

048of the district. Unfortunately, this was mainly accomplished through a small number of retirements, which allowed us to eliminate some positions, one-time expenditure cuts, and other cuts that would prove to be inadequate in the forthcoming years. The 2017 board once again committed itself to a 0% increase for the 2017 to 18 school year. This was unheard of in the state and some decry that this decision was not prudent thinking. I beg to differ then as I do now. Not only did we accomplish this for the respect of our tax base, we focused on maintaining our curriculum. We completed an unbelievable amount of long range capital projects, some of which were financed at record low interest rates with the district receiving state reimbursement. Our capital reserve and maintenance reserve accounts were still being funded and our fund

049balance basically our working capital was reported by our auditors as being healthy. As 2017 progressed the thought of closing the school was quietly discussed. This the excuse me the discussion was tempered after the township officially ended its lease for the Hillrest school building and by parents stating behem that closing a school was unnecessary. The spectre of an empty building still haunts any idea of physically closing an elementary school. The 2017 to 18 school year further declined to 3,37 students enrolled in the district. The 2018-19 budget discussions introduced and passed a modest tax increase. By the end of the 1718 school year, the district was able to transfer $500,000 into capital reserve. Everything changed once Governor Murphy signed Senate Bill 2, aka S2, in July of 2018. For a decade, the School Funding Reform Act of

0502008 was never fully implemented after its first and only fully funded school year of 2008 to 2009. The governor and the legislature committed to its full implementation. The result for West Milford was its first major estate aid reduction of $415,361. The board had to reapprove their 2018-19 budget that was passed in April to account for this reduction. The gravity of these state aid cuts were felt in the preparation of the 2019 to 20 school budget. This budget affected an enrollment of 3,154 students, which was 1,566 students less than our district's peak. Additionally, the next round of the S2 cuts called for a $950,66 reduction in state aid. The 2019 to20 budget introduced a $2.75% increase to the tax levy by utilizing bank cap. If you'll recall, the 2% per year increase can be carried forward

051within a 3-year period if the full 2% isn't utilized. So, a portion of the 2017 to 18 0% increase was mostly captured back. It was at this point that the vision of a consistent superintendent and a willing board chose to confront certain realities. In June of 2019, Ross Haver Associates completed an enrollment projection and demographic study to understand the continued decline in student enrollment. In 2010, it was advised that the district not close an elementary school. In this study, it was advised that the district undergo a utilization study to understand the impacts of closing an elementary school. In December of 2019, the board began a restructure that started with its approval of the MAC school reconfiguration for the 2020 2021 school year that introduced sixth graders to the middle school. But then the school year

052of 201920 began like most other school years until March of 2020. I don't want to rehash the calendar year of 2020. The policies of this time wildly wildly varied from state to state and from town to town. But one indisputable fact was that our students were negatively impacted. The only saving grace arrived for the school district's finances that pushed back the inevitability faced by this budget. Tonight, shortly after the pandemic began, the government printing press went to work and sent a massive amount of money to states and localities in the form of emergency relief omnibus spending legislation. In March 2020, the Corona virus aid relief and economic security. The CARES Act established the elementary and secondary school emergency relief fund esser with subsequent legislation following. As a result of this monetary windfall and the lack

053of necessity to operate the physical infrastructure of our district, the district was able to transfer $750,000 into capital reserve, $500,000 into maintenance reserve, and maintain an adequate fund balance. The challenges of 2020 made it easy to forget the other realities our town and district were facing. The 2020 census reported an additional population decrease of 988 residents. The 2020 to 2021 school year will be implemented for 3,95 students which was a 1,625 student decrease from the district B. And the state announced a further 1,972,723 state aid reduction for the 2020 to 2021 school year. Despite this bad news, by June of 2020, the CO relief measure sustained our budget decrease and also allowed for a 1 million50,000 transfer into our capital reserve. And legislation allowed for a larger carryover into our fund balance. The year 2020

054to 2021 began unlike any other school year and was further complicated by the record inflation that began in January 2021. the announcement of $2,415,22 of state aid reduction for the school year and continued enrollment decline. Though the news was not good, the additional CO relief measures still pro provided enough cash flow to the district and ultimately allowed for a $500,000 capital reserve transfer, a $300,000 maintenance reserve transfer, and an adequate fund balance. By May of 2022, a budget was approved for an enrollment of 2,968 students, a decline of 1,752 students from our district's peak, and the inclusion of an additional 2,92,145 in state aid reduction. Shortly after this budget's approval, the administration and the board announced their intention of further restructuring the district. The superintendent of the board formed several committees that included our district

055professionals and the public at large to seek counsel towards a completely different direction for our district in order to manage this budget's cuts. In July of 2022, more bad news came when New Jersey State Health Benefits Commission announced a 20 plus% rate increase for its members in 2023. Thankfully, we weren't shackled to this plan, but we still suffered dramatic increases of our own. And recently, the district absorbed a heavier burden in in its contractual obligations. The summer turned spring, the spring of fall, and then in December, Westbrook School was approved for repurposing beginning in the 2023 2024 school year, tonight's budget. Those effects are yet to be felt, and I don't think it's going to be enough of a measure. In the face of the challenges that Hillrest still presents us, I strongly believe that

056we will need to seriously discuss the utilization of our schools once again in order to study the effects of physically closing an additional elementary school. And even though there is a slight possibility of mandatory prek being instituted in our state, there's a reality that we need to face in this budget. All the history that came before this moment culminates in this moment. This budget represents a projected enrollment of 2,899 students, a projected decline of 1,821 students from our district peak, and an additional 1,194,16 [Music] decrease in state aid. The 2008 to 2009 budget was supported by over 25% in state aid. For the 2024 2025 budget, a little more than 5% will be supported by state aid. We will have one final state aid cut that's anticipated to be a little less than $1 million

057in order to implement not only a Senate Bill 2 acceleration, but which fully implements the Student Funding Reform Act of 2008 for only the second time since it was signed almost 15 years ago. And as a result, we will have a major structural deficit going into the 202425 budget. And once again, we are projected to continue the trend of declining student enrollment. I want to see school district that promotes a safer and more secure learning environment with additional vestibules like the one built in Westbrook and Makipin. I want to see increased offerings for our students with more professionals that can guide each and every one of their academic needs. I want to see a district that can afford increased professional development, reduced class sizes, additional social, emotional support systems, and on and on. But that

058goal takes really difficult and gut-wrenching decisions in order to accomplish it. It's been argued that we had a mini baby boom after the pandemic. I can almost assure you that our population growth will not grow its way out of our challenges. As much as a resource as a grant writer would be, hiring one would require that we let go of more employees. And to require our limited administration to apply for additional labor intensive grants on top of the ones they already applied for would be unfair to them. We have no choice but to make our next decision standing on the pillars of our constitutional mandate for a thorough and efficient education. We must advocate for our students. And sometimes the only way about that is through difficult growing pains. Of our 74,545,415 budget, 42,385,14 is

059anticipated spending on salaries, or rather 56.9% of our total budget. With the remaining 43.1% of our funding, a substantial amount is dedicated to other fixed costs, which leaves limited opportunities for the decisions ahead. However, if 2020 taught us one thing, our school children are more resilient than they get credit for, it's time to move forward. The effects of this budget will fall on a new superintendent. As history has dictated, the students of West Milford and the taxpayers of West Milford are best served by the stability of a consistent and dedicated superintendent whose core focuses are student advocacy, community engagement, and strategic planning. I have no question in my mind of who should fill that position. I'd like to make one thing clear. Being in favor of this budget does not equate to being happy with

060this budget. No one is happy with this budget. But I support this budget because I believe this moment represents a turning point that will eventually result in a more thorough and more efficient school district whose best days are ahead. This budget that we are voting on at this moment may be the most important vote in our beloved township's history. By voting yes tonight, I believe we will make our first step in saving our district with all deliberate speed. to my colleagues. I ask for your support as well so we can move forward together. >> Thank you so much. >> Any other comments by sorry >> because I felt like that I'm sorry I'm out of order but that was a very long statement when we're in the agenda. I understand you had a statement about

061>> Okay. Do you have any comments or questions on the number one under operations? >> I have no comments. >> Go ahead, Ryan. >> How many staff members do we have? Like what's our how many staff members do we have total? >> Subs or anything like that? >> Certified in support >> full time and time. I I would say it's so it hovers around 500. >> Yeah. 500. Okay. >> Because I mean I listen I mean makes sense that 57% of the budget is wages >> consistently districts. >> I would say that most um 75 80% is salary benefits. And just for this coming year, how much are we giving to um state county technical institute for each student that goes there? >> They actually um increase their tuition for their students this year >>

062by 11,000 or was over 11,000. Now we're at 10,854. So >> 250 fort is1,140, $720 one more time. 1 million what? $140,720. That sounds like a what a 2%. >> Yeah. So I think you knew what I was getting at, right? So, and again, I think it's just a wonderful school, but I think for all of us taxpayers, we pay county taxes that go to the St. County Technical Institute, right? West Mil, and I have friends that have students or or children at St. County Tech, but I do feel like that's a little bit of a double dip, right? And I know we've tried to do things and and you know it seems like it falls on deaf ears. >> We've passed resolutions in the past. We can do so again once. I mean funding

063formula in for county technical schools is different in every county. I know there should be a standard formula across the state. So in Burton County just right next door the county commissioners the county essentially supports about half the budget and the local school districts in the aggregate support 50% too. In C County the commissioner support I believe like 10%. And the local school districts support 90%. So it's very tough. It's much more difficult on safe high school districts than it is just in Bergen County. And believe Mars County, what do they uh I don't have to Mars County? No. But uh Mars County offers a half day program which allows students to go to their home school for a half day and then school for half a day where home school is closed. So it's

064a little bit more flexibility, but we don't get that from >> again. Right. So I I know I'm this is my part of the school board. and frustrated as a taxpayer. frustrated as a taxpayer that this happens year after year to west not just west Milford and Greenwood and Wiku and Bloomingdale Rock Lakes and we continue to provide 90% to say county tech along with all the money that the state continues to provide to create a campus that is You're saying probably one of the premier, if not the premier county technical institutes in the entire state, right? >> 17 million. That for real? That's >> I don't know. That's what I heard. I don't know if that's true. >> It's more than twice the size of the second largest county. So, we're also not just

065funded differently. It's also more students just out of you look at the sizes of Morris County, Sussex, Bergen, Union, Essex, they're all right around here. more than double the second largest is county. So seems out of whack. It's an out of whack for sure. So you're right. It is frustrating. And you know the taxpayer and the school board member. >> It is out of whack. And personally I never thought I'd say this, but I I know someone very well who's the DA and their accountant of a um technical school not in our county. Um not near. However, they said it's almost crazy. We don't even know what to spend all our money on. >> Oh yeah. >> So in our seat, the technical high school, their BA is saying we just can't decide what to

066upgrade next. So they're feeling the total opposite of what we're feeling. And the fight here is really we shouldn't be fighting here. We need to fight together and get to that PCTI meeting. We said it many times, but that meeting I think is at 9:00 a.m. You know, I'm a volunteer here and I have a job and most of you have jobs. So, I I can't go to the PCTI board meeting. >> That's why they make it at 9:00 a.m., right? So, um, can I just throw something? >> Yeah. Go ahead. Sorry. No, that's okay. Um, and so, um, the the one thing I just want to bring to along the lines of this discussion is that that's why our commissioners say, "Well, we've kept our our budget flat for all these years, and then

067they're very proud of keeping the county taxes low," is because they're only keeping that percentage across the board. And then they're making each individual townships pony up the difference. And so it it ends up again being sh should shouldered on the the families and the and the taxpayers here with potential and it is it is just totally it's totally normal and yes I've heard many stories about they have so much each teacher has money they don't know what this you know sp and I keep saying let's send it back to us milk and >> so I will go back to something that um Terry said a little bit earlier with regard to class sizes and and I said I know I sound like a broken record and I've said this for years with regard to

068each um honors classes and AP classes and sometimes you might have four or five students in an honors class and another four or five students or eight students and seven students in a honors and AP class. I don't know why some of those cannot be involved. just think that they're learning the same thing. I I get it. Some students chose not to take an AP. >> I mean, I believe this board, majority of the people on this board have requested multiple times that the honors track not be a track and it be AP and they be combined. We have said that I've been on this board. This is my fifth year. I've heard that every single year. >> Or is there you said there going to be some >> there'll be fewer teachers, so you'll

069have to combine the courses as a result of the proposed reductions. You just have to have fewer teachers around. So you have to combine some courses. You may not have you may not be able to run certain courses or you may have to combine other courses. >> Yeah. Because when you look at the curriculum of both I know, you know, differences in certain classes, some of them >> the high school schedule is done at this point, right? >> Yeah. What do we have? Do you know what are there? >> There are some questions about >> we have asked for for years. I usually go to my AP because the argument is that even if you're in an honors course in an AP course as an honors student, no one tells you you have to take

070the tests, but they're still like learning the same material side by side and it seems like we're wasting our dollar. I just want to get back on something with the PCTI too. We are not criticizing PCTI as a school. They're an excellent educational school. We are feeling the impact financially because of it. And it isn't just a county problem. It's a state problem because our state wants to regionalize schools. >> Yes. >> And that they are doing it through tax dollars >> and whether we fight or not, that's their end goal. And unfortunately for Pay County because of the makeup of the communities in Pay County, that's why we're landing where we are with what what's happening here. It's an excellent school. There's great a lot of our kids do very well from there. I

071think one of the problems are we have Deb Demi and I have sat through meetings at county level to try to address that because the inc the percentage that the county gives to uh covers for PCTI has not changed in over 15 years. Imagine you with your budget never having to change it. As a taxpayer, I I'm paying twice, >> but I would much rather see them increase it at the county level than so that everybody feels their fortune, >> right? >> Three times >> cuz our state tax dollars, >> right? And you're right. But I'm saying it they it's not really it's not PCTI's law. Yours and we've heard this for years. I can remember going to workshop for years. Perry and I have sat at tables with school districts who were on the

072other side of the funding picture and they they would say, "Oh, well, we're putting in a new stadium and and we're sitting here. We're trying to figure out how we're going to keep our teachers." So it it it is it's an unfair funding package and it's not going to ever be fair for West Milford because of where we are and how how it is. You know, it's just the way it breaks down. But we should be fighting. But the school board can't fight it. We need we need taxpayers to fight because we've sat in meeting after meeting, written letters, done we've done resolutions with everything we could possibly >> piggybacking on the on the conversation just like maybe I I took an extra 10 minutes. I'm sorry. [Music] >> Seeing as none will come. Mr.

073Gino. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Shak. >> Yes. Mrs. Lockwood. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Dwire. >> No. Mr. S. >> Yes. >> Mrs. O. Yes. Mr. Lippy. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Van Dyke. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Romeo. >> Yes. [Applause] >> Like to make a motion uh to move item number two under operations and finance. >> Second. >> Any questions or comments? [Applause] >> See, please. Mr. Green. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Rain. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Lockwood. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Yes. Mr. Yes, >> Mr. Yes. Mr. Libby. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Hike. Yes. Mrs. Ro. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Van Dyke. Person on student affairs, please. >> Yes. I'd like to move item one through 53. >> Any questions or comments? So, um I have some comments number 24. Um Miss and I Claudia and

074I um this district will not be the same without you. Um not only was Mrs. NY, um teacher in high school, and I can tell you that she saved a lot of lives. Um, when we got to college, I remember friends saying, "Oh, remember when Miss Nye told us, if we're ever in this situation, do this, or if someone ever tries to steal you, do this." Or and people were like, "She saved my life." You know, she taught a psychology class that just was real life and taught you how to handle situations and why people do things and it was incredible. Um, so thank you for saving my friend's lives. um but also uh for being my mentor when I became a teacher. Uh she was a great mentor and and now she's a good

075friend. So good luck in your retirement. Uh and I was really shocked to see that on the agenda. Um can I say something? Yep. Go ahead, Mrs. NY. Um I taught with Mrs. night for many years and she truly is an incredible character and human being and um this district will truly miss her because she just had such a personality and a rapport with kids that you don't find in um every high school. So, thank you Claudia for everything and um every time I I think of you, I think of your recipes and your our cooking conversations and um just the smiles that you gave all of us. So, thank you for everything. >> I also want to say thank you to Claudia. Claudia was a person that you asked her a question, she gave

076you the answer. She didn't she doesn't beat around the subject. And I think you're right. A lot of students learned and respected her and cared enough that if they had an issue, they went to her and they felt comfortable talking with her. So, she definitely will be an asset that we want to see. Good luck, Clay. I hope you're going to have a great retirement. [Applause] >> One more for Claudia. So, so you know, maybe a little bit different, but um I know she's a fantastic teacher. But, um the other thing that she's known for um from some of my children's children, young men, now friends, is also just being a great mom. And you know what, that's all many of you out there also are great moms and great parents. And uh she was

077fantastic to so many students. since you probably would say, you know, I felt like a mom to Kate and and others um besides her students and I know that, you know, my one of my boys felt that way about her, too. So, Claudia, congratulations. Have a great retirement. >> Any other uh comments or questions? >> So, I have a comment on 15. Um the district guidance counselor position actually the cut is going to be at the high school. Is that correct? >> So the the cut is the staff or is that math again? That'll be bumping in a transfer probably next week or two weeks over next week. [Applause] >> Can you repeat that please? Okay. So, we're going to riff recommending that we riff employee 5192 who's a Macin employee, but there will be

078a subsequent recommendation at the end of May to transfer a high school staff member in the same position group from high school to medical >> for that position. >> So, that leads me to a question. If if a staff member for any open position wanted a lateral move, how do they ask for that? >> They should probably speak to the principal. >> Okay. And then what does the principal do? Like can you give me the like how does that work? >> Well, you speak to the principal. The principal will speak to uh Dr. Veno, Miss Novak, or myself depending on who's partner. >> Okay. to the board of committee and and so on. >> Dr. I just want to make a statement. I was in shock right over the weekend and I had a parent

079that approached me about the agenda and about the the employee IDs being on here. And what the what the parent said to me kind of hit home to me because it makes sense. They said, "Why is it that the the staff names are on the agenda for when they take a leave of absence or when we're they're resigning or retiring, but in this case where people were rifted that they're not here and parents would have liked to know if it was their teacher that or guidance counselor or whatever is being rifted and I I have to say I didn't know what to say to her because she's right. She made it very clear to me that it looks like we're not being transparent as a board and that the board is trying to hide something.

080So, I I'm okay with tonight because this is where we are. But I hope in future agendas if we have people on for these items, I would like to see their name there because I think that if we put it there to make sure everybody knows they're taking a leave or that they're resigning or whatever, I think it should be here to, you know, we have to own up that we're letting them go and who they are on that. I think um I think it should be their decision if you know when they get their letter if they want their name printed. Well, a lot of people felt that they didn't know the reason on >> the people who were hung. [Applause] >> Did they not get I didn't have that discussion, but I I

081agree. I think it's a public body and if you want to be transparent, people's name should be on there and if somebody contacts you and said, "I don't want my name on there," that's a whole another thing. But I think we're not doing what we should be doing as a public college. [Applause] >> Have we always done it that way or not? >> Yeah, we had names on the wrist. >> Everybody when I don't know when it started that idea. >> Well, yeah, last year it wasn't. >> I know. certain circumstances it would be absolutely appropriate not to have right and I understand that but >> it's interesting because right before this meeting Andy just said to me you might want to go and have your whole entire agenda just have ID numbers like other

082districts do and take off all the names and I said well I guess we're going to have to put that on a committee to for discussion right because it was just something that we were chatting chatting about and saying other districts do not put names on at all. They just have ID numbers. So, um it's an interesting thing and I personally I understand exactly what you're saying. Um but when someone writes a letter to the district for a leave of absence, you're requesting that they be like as the employee, I'm asking your permission to have, you know, be paid for my leave of absence. So, you know, your name's going on. When you're a RIP, and I have been both of these things in my own life, so I understand. I don't know that you

083know anything. >> Well, you're not finding them. You're you're letting them go for red and doing that it tells the students and the parents that they're leaving. Like it it it's not so much that it can prevent them from leaving us, but it gives them a heads up so that maybe they want to have an interaction with that teacher and say, "Look, you know, I'm sorry you're going. I would like to come out." >> Yeah. We'll bring this to committee for sure. Yeah. um in personal committee. We'll discuss it. >> Yeah. >> Go ahead. Right. >> I'm here with Peter. >> Yeah. I'm here with I think it's just about consistency. >> That's right. >> It's going to be numbers that if it's consistent, it just looks very different to [Music] I I agree with

084I agree with your point on that. But I think sometimes it's the where many people go when people are retiring, people are not doing things like that. has different cases in their life. So when we're doing something because it's a legendary reason, it's not a personal decision. So we have not emotional decision. No, it is very emotional. However, the reasons that we're doing are not emotional. So these I would imagine these teachers and staff should know their own ID numbers. know whether or not they recognize that or not. I don't believe they know they noted that they're being a meeting or before we discuss everything. >> Well, they know they're being recommended. >> What would the be officials have to meet? Never want to say this is what's going to say this recommended. Everyone on

085this list received the pink slip with lettering. [Music] >> So tomorrow they receive whoever gets voted on to be they receive a notice tomorrow saying the board voted last night to >> No, they receive a rice notice. >> Well, it doesn't it just says you'll be talked about. It doesn't it doesn't state to them that we're talking it that we're letting them go. Yeah, it's a it's for them. I guess you're you're thinking, well, of course, they're assuming that that's what the case is. >> I I was under the impression that Eron was giving a like pig slip. >> How are you guys not how are you not under? >> And I remember saying when I was a non-tenured staff member in West Milford, everybody that was non-tenured and anybody that was the possibility of

086getting cut all got me splits. Um, and I mean it was stressful, but at least there were a lot of us in the scene, you know, it was different. Now I was told that only the people that are the possible definite cuts get the pink slips, >> but that didn't happen. >> Well, no, that did happen. We we did not deliver we don't pink slips anymore. Um, but they received a notice that they would get a >> once they're voted on approved. Then tomorrow they'll receive a letter saying at the May 2nd board event meeting the board voted to a reduction in force in their position. So nothing's been nothing's been voted on yet. We couldn't tell any staff member you've lost your job. You some of them are tenure. So after that vote by

087the board tonight, we can't tell somebody they they lost something. >> In years past, I can tell you what we have always had to people up until maybe the last few years, you know, we we've kind of because of because of retirement that kind of stopped that. But what always went out is some in some some years we ripped everybody that they possibly could and then you would bring them back one at a time. We all felt that that was a little draconian to do because that we weren't going to let everyone go. So everybody got a riff notice before the meeting and then it was voted on. And if we didn't if we didn't they weren't if they weren't on that list then they got a letter saying that they still kept here or

088they let go letter stating that they were being let go. A rights notice to someone I maybe Andy can address this really doesn't tell the the employee more than you're on the agenda or you're going to be discussed. That's all they know. So they do feel up in the air. Maybe there should have been some discussions. I don't know with staff that let them know that this these are the things that are going to happen. Nothing's happened. It could change, but that's not our call. >> So letters after tonight's meeting, all the letters for personnel go out to >> how do they go out? >> They go uh hard copy and via email. So we just we have the retirement here. That one obviously will be approved. That will go out tomorrow morning via email

089and via hard copy. US if number one is not voted on. If it was voted no, then we couldn't, you know, we can't do it without the official vote tonight. You rehire Mr. Gross. This is all happen. So this entire thing needs to go to personnel that absolutely needs um improvements for next year. The first mistake was in the very first budget presentation when we saw um the board didn't have that prior and if we had I would have called Alex and said whatever slide it was where the positions were listed Alex you can't put that up there but I didn't see it prior so I didn't get to give my opinion or my yelling or whatever. So the following day, I know that staff members showed up to their buildings and some principles said

090to them, "I'm really sorry." They're like, "What? Sorry." Yeah, your position was, you know, so that can't happen again. Um, pink slips really should go out. That is not fair that they're not. >> Um, pink slip means, and we can call it whatever you want, but a rice notice doesn't do it. I call it a pink slip. I don't care what we want to call it in the future. It tells someone you're possibly losing your job because of the budget or because of whatever is happening and plan for your future, right? That's fair. Um I know we've talked about being fair as much as we possibly can. So this is new to me and I didn't know that this was happening and clearly you can see that I'm upset. So, will >> I don't understand

091how you get a pink slip for something that hasn't been approved yet. We're the ones that came down the road. >> I don't know how you do that. How do you How do you give a pink slip to somebody who hasn't been formally approved for that? >> You anticipate a pink slip. Is it a milder pink slip? Like, is there a different version of a pink slip? We knew that there would be. >> Well, you know, you still have to go through the process of Excuse me. >> We listen to you. >> Honestly, >> you are far from you leave. >> You will have a public comment at the end. >> Oh, question. >> Yeah. You said robot [Music] I stay on number 32 and yes for the red M. >> Yes. >> Mr. Ly.

092>> Yes. >> Mrs. Yes. Mrs. Ler. Yes, Mr. Green. >> Um, so based on that discussion, no on 1 through 23 and abstain on 32. Yes. >> No. On one to 23. on 32 and you would say yes to the arrest. >> Mrs. No on 1 to 23 and yes on everything else >> Mr. O'Brien no one 1 to 23. >> Mrs. I have seen on 31 32 43 47. Yes on everything. Um education is Blackwood. I make a motion to approve agenda item one under education. Second. [Applause] >> Any questions or comments? [Applause] Seeing as none, [Applause] >> Mrs. L. >> Yes. >> Mr. Swoods. >> Yes. >> Mr. Bino. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Brier. Does this include the um Disney trip that our administrators are making? >> No. Okay. Yes. Brian. >> Yes.

093>> Mr. Liby. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Van Dyke. >> Yes. Mrs. Rosano. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Romeo. Yes. [Applause] >> Okay. The next item is 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 asked to speak prior to the meeting will be recognized by the chair first. After speaking, all speakers are asked to sign the register provided give their full name for affiliation and their address. All statement shall be directed to the presiding officer. No participant may address or question board members individually. All speakers are expected to read the statement within the agenda regarding the regulations concerning public comments and members of the public are reminded that they're legally

094responsible and liable for their comments. Was there anyone that would like to see Can you get the um button show that it's red, please? >> Yeah, someone else is on. >> Do you see red? >> Yes. >> Okay. I don't mean in general. I mean on the microphone. >> Yes. Um Christina Duffy 25. My children attend Marshall Hill Elementary School. um for such time as say the diet tribe that we just got tortured with was next level. Um so what I'm I'm what I'm saying I feel like given what you just did is kind of um I'm saying it for the record. So despite what you see from me over here, I don't like public speaking. Um, but I read the agenda yesterday and I read it again today and I was so compelled um

095to at least say something. So, your workforce reduction proposal in section um to put it politely is upsetting and disappointing. 22 positions is a tremendous number and certainly more than I anticipated would be proposed. What's even more upsetting than the fact that 22 positions are being eliminated, is the fact that a little under 1th3 of those positions, a total of seven, work with our kids with learning differences. So by my calculation, that's four encore teachers, two special education teachers, and one member of the child study team. So that's 1/3 of the total workforce reduction number. That's staggering. And as the mother of a child in this district that benefits from special education, I am concerned about the impacts this proposal will have on my child and her peers. Since Marshall Hills is our home school,

096I'd like to specifically address the reduction mentioned in item 11 under section 11, eliminating a special education teacher. As I understand the redistricting numbers, Marshall Hill will have approximately a hundred new little faces walking through its doors come September. So, I realize that it's a net 40 with the kids that are moving out, new that are coming in, but for the sake of this discussion, it's a hundred new faces, unknown learners, right? But Marshall Health has to get to know them. Some of those kids are already going to be in a resource setting. So it in my mind kind of makes up and I don't know the numbers so maybe I'm wrong but in my mind makes up for the kids that are shifting out from resource and going to other schools. So fine but

097then Marshall Hill has to get to know all these other learners right who very likely could be referred to resource for optimized learning right thus increasing class sizes. Now your proposal which is I guess now in effect right class sizes become even bigger. So increased class sizes will make it more challenging for every student a resource to get a fair shake at learning and will definitely set the remaining teachers up to be spread way too thin. The objective of resource room is to make learning accessible for every type of learner. to me eliminating a special education teacher for a school that is receiving the largest influx of children I believe and once again I'm wrong from your redistricting efforts seems to fly in the face of the objective of resource leveling the playing field you're

098taking opportunity away from our kids and you're making learning less accessible um and I'll just say even though it's an ID number, she's exceptional really. Um, and it'll be a huge loss. [Applause] So, I'll say this as a taxpayer, as a mom, um, as a PTA member, I believe that you wouldn't subject yourself to board of education service if you didn't want better for our kids. you had the opportunity and I guess you still do in other ways, right? To make things right for these kids. I wish you wouldn't have moved ahead with this, but we are where we are. I'd like to see you do better. I believe in you. I trust in you as a taxpayer, and um I'm disappointed for sure. So, thanks. Thank you. I would like to see [Applause] somebody

099else. >> Are you coming up? >> Yeah, but you can go first. You go first. Sure. >> I'm sorry. Wait. Is there someone else that wanted to speak? Do you want to speak? >> No, you go first. >> She already spoke, so get to the 30 minute. Yeah, thank you. >> Thank you, Dr. D. No problem. Catherine Oh, I supposed to be read Katherine Weiss Connor, 37 Drive. I was looking over our teachers who are um being wrecked right now who are I don't know if we can answer this but how many of them are tenyear teachers? [Music] [Applause] >> You typically don't answer question. >> Okay. The reason I'm asking this is because I'm aware that there are teachers who have not been offered back their positions when they are opened back up again.

100that has cost school districts two plus years of salaries that they have to reimburse when a teacher is ripped and they are not giving they're not offered their job back. Who's going to keep track of this? Because we have to make sure if we are ripping 10ear teachers, somebody is keeping track of it because our teachers better be offered their jobs back if their positions open because that is the only right thing to do because otherwise we're going to have bigger issues. [Music] Thank you. >> Is there someone else that would like to speak? Go ahead. [Music] I apologize. This is a little bit of word vomit. I just kind of listen randomly. So again, first off, hello everybody. Um, first of all, thank you for the 20-year history lesson. I really appreciated that. I

101did actually pay attention and take in some notes myself because there are some things that I have seen myself growing up, you know, graduating high school in 2006. I saw those changes firsthand while I was in college in 2008. So, this all can't be blamed, by the way, on the Hands Act. I've heard this time and time again my short time here on the board. So, I've gone back, I've looked through, I know what the Hands Act is. However, I do find that the vacancy rate that we had that started in 2008 has significantly decreased. houses that were surrounding by me that were either short sale or foreclosed have now been bought up and again there's not that many pre vacant properties that are left within West Milford because of CO people have moved into

102this town I can't stress that enough the population is not aging I don't care what Dr. process. It's changing. As I've said it before, people were essentially forced out of their homes because even though you say the average rate of the house is $240,000 in our in our town, I don't agree with that. Because of co our houses have sold for double that. People were saying make an extra 200 grand on my house. I wasn't going to move to Florida yet, but maybe I will. So, I can't stress that enough that I have seen younger and younger people coming in. people coming in from morely condensed counties because of COVID, they wanted more space and obviously Westford offers that more than the more congested counties. Um, my own research has proved that declining enrollment isn't

103is simply not because we aren't having as many children. Again, I can think of multiple families that have more than two children, three, four, five, six children. So, to blame my generation for not having as many children is simply wrong for blaming it because there aren't any new bills because the Highlands Act, but because they're sending their children elsewhere. you talk about it yourself. We're al I can tell you as many parents probably one in four families are sending their children to PCTI just based off of my own research and also speaking of the census. The census was done right before the co right before CO hit. Remember I said I remember someone knocking on my door in March of 2020. I'm curious to see what the next US census will show us. The last

104census was done obviously before this little co baby blip. It's not a like I projected. So yes, I need lots of kids. I can't always be right. Even if you consider closing another school, I will guarantee if there is some way I can put in a grievance of closing another school in this town, and I know you would choose Paradise Mills, which is absurd, I will gather as many residents as humanly possible and offering an estate monitor myself because they would somehow have to do a better job than what we're doing. Also, please don't be so shortsighted about the grant writer. I guarantee you, you have residents that are more than willing to help meet that goal. We need to consider something as simple as fundraising. Think outside the box of simply having a big

105sale. Being a part of the PTA myself, I have seen us do wonders with fundraising. So again, don't be so shortsighted and sell ourselves short because we're ready to come in blazing and trying to do whatever we can to do this grand writing, even if that means having to fund raise to hire someone outside. So, also based off of what you said, Linda, please tell me as a taxpayer how I can help you. If you say as a board, we cannot go to these meetings. We cannot speak to PCTI or their staff or the town or the county or the state, whatever it may be. Tell me what I can do. Send me an email. I will write it down on this form. Tell me what I can do. I have stood on Capitol Hill

106as a physical therapist. I have pleaded with them to pass treatment acts. It took 18 years, but I got it done. So tell me what I need to do instead of speaking hypothetically. Tell me, give me concrete information and I will do what you need me to do. Thank you. Stephanie Mark, 46. I wasn't going to speak tonight. Uh, but just a couple of observations. One, we are a community and the fact that there just seems to be so much animosity is horrible. Okay. Nobody here should be made to feel bad because they want to protect the staff that's here, the amazing staff that's here. Nor should people be mocked when they bring up things that other people have maybe voted on in the past. Going forward, this board needs to understand that for the

10712 years that I've been coming to board meetings and for the 10 years that I worked in this district, our administration and our board worked well with our staff. we were a community. Now we have turned into the Hatfield and McCoys. So if you want this district to be successful, there needs to be a little coming together. And I certainly hope that coming down the road there'll be a little bit more of that. Like people not getting notices at 4:00 in their email at the same time as a principal when they're going to be losing their job. Okay? We are a community. We all have to work together. You have the big cuts. We understand that little disappointing that maybe we didn't look at, you know, a redundant IT position or a $37,000 web master

108position that no other district has. I mean, including PCTI, by the way, we don't spend $37,000 on our uh on our web master. It's part of their job. Um, and for clarification, anybody who wants to attend a PCTI meeting, they're all at 4:30. So, none of them are at 9:00. uh maybe they were in the past, but I can tell you for a fact they're not now. Um and they actually are very sympathetic to the situation here and I know have reached out to different administrators to talk about ways that they could help. So hopefully the incoming administration will be willing to take up that offer for help and work with them to benefit our children and our staff and our community. Thank you. [Applause] Next speaker. [Music] [Applause] [Music] >> All in favor? >>

109Any opposed? Um clar could you please read the executive session and um what we're going to do is we will all return and vote together and then go back and do a So the first question [Applause] [Music] is [Music] The next one will be personnel and you will not be taking action. But the first one right now, let's focus on that. We're going to do his and negotiations. Claire's going to read it. We need a half hour. [Music] So at 8:50, I make a motion to go into executive session for the purpose of discussing negotiations, tips if matters of attorney client privilege. The executive session minutes will not release until such time as the privilege or confidentiality is no longer applicable. The board will be in executive session for approximately 30 minutes. Action will be

110taken when we return. >> Second. >> Thank you, sir. All in favor? >> Any opposed? >> Um, I'll call the meeting back to order. Uh, Mrs. Lockwood, education. Oh, wait. I'm sorry. Roll call, Miss Francisco. >> Sorry about that. Mrs. Van Dyke here. Mr. Swood >> here. >> Mrs. Ricardo >> here. Mrs. O'Brien >> here. >> Mr. Dino >> here. >> Mrs. W here. >> Mr. Libby >> here. >> Mrs. Ro here. >> Okay. Now, education. Miss Black. I make a motion to approve agenda item number two. under education uh 2023/M12 as unsubstantiated 2023/M13 as unsubstantiated. >> Second. >> Any questions or comments? Seeing as none, roll call, please. >> Mrs. Lwood, >> yes. >> Mrs. Mr. Slay, >> abstain. Mr. Reno, >> yes. >> Mrs. Guer, >> yes. >> Mr. O'Brien, >> yes. >>

111Mr. Whippy, >> yes. >> Mrs. Land, >> yes. >> Mrs. Ricardo, >> yes. >> Mrs. Romeo, >> yes. >> I need a motion for adjournment. >> Second executive session. Yeah. >> Sorry. I need a motion for second executive session for personnel matters >> and we will not return. >> We will return. But you are not returning. >> We will return an action be taken. >> I'd like to make a motion that we go into a second executive session for approximately >> 30 minutes and we will return um due to action to be taken. >> Yeah. >> Second. >> Thank you. All in favor? I. >> Any opposed? No. >> Welcome back. Can you roll call Barbara? >> Sure. >> Mr. Whippy >> here. >> Mrs. Dwyer >> here. >> Mr. Greenland is absent. Mrs. Lwood

112here. Mr. O'Brien >> here. Mrs. Romeo is absent. Mrs. Hano here. And Mr. S here. >> Okay. I make a I make a recommendation to approve Kathleen Hawa Educational Consultants to conduct a superintendent search in the amount of $10,000 pursuant to the terms of her proposal. >> Second, >> Mr. Libby. >> Yes, >> Mrs. Dwire. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Blackwood. >> Yes. >> Mrs. O'Brien. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Dano. >> Yes. >> Mr. Sitz. >> Yes. >> Mr. L. >> Yes. >> Mr. Dwer. >> Yes. I got you. >> I miss somebody. >> You met everybody. >> You were that good. It was that allergy pill they made me take the clarinet. Oh, that's on camera. Can I have a motion? A motion to adjurnn. Second. I move to adjourn. Second, voice. I in >>

113favor. Bye.