Board of Education Meeting 3/28/23

001Good evening. I'd like to call the meeting to order. Um, please take a moment of silence. >> Please stand for the flag salute. I aliance 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's meeting act, a public notice of this meeting has been sent to board members, all district schools, the Herald news, the suburban trends, the record, the messenger, West Milford town hall, the county superintendent's office, the board attorney, cable vision of Warwick, and West Milford TV77, and posted in the administration building. Copies of the board meeting calendar resolution were provided to all local media, town hall, township library, and all district schools. Roll call. Miss Francisco, >>

002Mrs. Rico >> here, >> Mr. Sidowitz >> here, >> Mr. Lippy >> here, >> Mrs. Dwer >> here, >> Mr. Garino >> here, >> Mrs. O'Brien >> here, >> Mrs. Lockwood >> here, >> Mrs. Van Dyk, Mrs. Romeo >> here. To start this meeting, we are going to go into executive session. Um, could I get a motion? >> I move that the board immediately go into executive session for approximately 45 minutes for the purpose of conducting a grievance hearing. The executive session minutes will not be released until such time as the privilege where confidentiality is no longer applicable. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? Welcome back. Um, can I please have roll call? Miss Francisco, >> Mrs. Rico >> here. >> Mr. Sidowitz here. >> Mr. Lippy >> here. >>

003Mrs. Dwer >> here. >> Mr. Gino >> here. >> Mrs. O'Brien >> here. >> Mrs. Lockwood >> here. >> Mrs. Romeo >> here. >> Um, bear with me. We're going to go a little bit out of order from the agenda. I would like to ask Gabby to do her student representative report first. Can you hear me? >> Yes. >> So, on March 3rd, we raised $1,200 at our annual volleyball tournament that will be donated to the Alzheimer's Association. This Saturday on April 1st, the PTSO is running a food truck festival with the car show at the high school. The annual district arts festival is tomorrow from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. The high school musical, Something Rotten, which was held on March 9th, 10th, and 11th, was very successful. Digital citizenship night for grades 3rd through

0048th, was held at the high school on March 22nd. And Junior Palm is this Friday, March 31st at Kasa Bianca. >> Thank you. >> And um Dr. Moon for your superintendent report. >> Yes, we will be brief tonight. I know we have a backed agenda. Um early this month, we had one of our high school students receive the Pay County Unsung heroes award. This is awarded to one student from every high school in the county for making outstanding contributions to their schools and their communities. So this year's award is one of our seniors, Giana Hardison. Congratulations, [Applause] Tiana. Thank you. Okay. Next, I um I'm going to ask the auditors to present. >> Okay. Uh I'd like to present Jim Cerillo from the uh audit firm Will Cox >> and Company. >> Good evening everyone.

005Um, every year we come in do the annual audit. Uh, this is for the period ending June 30th, 2022. Here we are at the end of March going over these reports. Normally this would take place usually your December meeting for the fourth year in a row. We had a wait on information from division of pensions which put off the due date of the audit report from December 5th to March 17th this year. Uh there's two reports. The small report you get uh is the auditor's management report. Uh it has basically 10 areas the department of education requires us to look into along with uh generally accepted auditing standards. We're supposed to report any finding no matter how large or small. Um please report that there's no audit findings in this year's report. Um the larger

006report is called the annual comprehensive financial report. Um it's made up of various sections. Uh as I tell all the board of eds that I represent and just to backtrack, I'm not the partner in charge of your account. We did have conflicting meetings tonight. So I'm here representing the firm. Did do the audit here probably about 30 40 years ago. Can >> you just tell me is your microphone on red in front of you? >> Um the bottom part's on red. >> Thank you. Um the larger report um the probably the most meaningful section of this report is the budgetary basis of accounting statements. They begin with the C exhibits. Um they're the only ones that really give a true financial picture that you utilize the department of ed utilizes. Um this year you did

007have a small increase in your reserves. you're able to put money into your maintenance reserve, your capital reserve. Um, and this was the last year of the COVID uh years that the the Department of Education allowed you to maintain 4% surplus instead of 2%. So, moving forward, you're going to see a drop in your surplus. I know you utilize uh, you know, significant amounts of your surplus every year in your budget process. Um, but there's going to be less of it uh available moving forward now that we're out of the uh co uh phase of reporting. I don't know if anyone has any questions on any of the two reports. I'd be happy to answer them. >> Any questions or comments from the board? >> Yes. For a simple board trustee like myself, what would

008you say are the most important numbers I should find in any of these books? Uh the small one has the at the end of the report has the excess surplus calculation. Actually the last page has the one that has no order findings. Uh but prior to that is the excess surplus calculation and then the large report uh exhibit C1. >> Thank you. >> Hey I do have something. Over the years, every time we get an auditor's report, there's always one area that um we have difficulty with and that we have to make like a remediation for and plan. There's nothing in this report this time. It's a perfect report, Barbara. Thank you so much for everything you do. Thank you to I have to thank my staff because they are incredible with the with when

009the auditors come in to do all the testing of the purchase orders and the payroll. They're spot on and they are just an amazing group of people and um they do a great job for um West Milford. >> Considering the financial difficulties we were having, this is an incredible report. So, thank you. >> Agreed. Any other um comments or questions? Thank you very much. >> Thank you. [Applause] >> Happy I'm leaving. [Applause] >> All right. Well, what a beautiful way to start a large meeting. Um, and next, uh, the director of education's report, Mr. Novak. >> Uh, thank you, Mrs. Romeo. Um, uh, Mr. Winston, can you fire it up? >> All right. Uh, I just want to comment on what our student rep, uh, mentioned in her report. We had our, um, the return

010of our annual digital citizenship night last week. We had over, uh, 300 registered guests and we had, um, you know, a large majority of those people show up uh, which was a which is a great event. I know I have a number of my uh, educational technology committee people here in the um, in the room. So I just want to again thank thank everyone for um putting putting this event together. Uh we were able to um you know present to parents on the dangers of um you know the dangers of all the apps cyber bullying the the things that our kids get in involved in on their on their phones and on technology devices. we were able to have a closing um closing keynote from uh presenter named Kevin Honeyut who really um you know

011who really closed the event with some heart and soul about you know the the positives uh the positives that can be you know done with the with students access to digital tools and and and that type of thing. So um you it was a great great night. We were able to raffle off a lot of prizes due to you know a lot of the community community donations that we received. So, we were um you know very happy with the success of the event. Mr. Jordan from our um TV science class was able to um have some students and himself recording from the evening and he put together a short highlights video that I'm going to uh play now. Heat. Heat. [Music] [Applause] [Music] You got up works. It's a blessing. When it doesn't work, >>

012it's a car. >> It's a easy button. Heat. Heat. All [Music] right. [Applause] Hey guys. I didn't I didn't bring it. Anyway, um Mr. Jordan made a great video. I will um send that out there. >> So, yes. Yes. So, the the next part of the agenda is a is a followup to digital citizenship night. One of the uh programs that we introduced that night is something called smartsocial.com. It's something that we registered for as a district. Every family has access to it. We have over 150 families signed up and when I send that video link to everyone via school messenger, I will include the QR code for how families uh can sign up for Smarto. But basically in a nutshell what smartsocial.com is, it's a collection of video tutorials, access to live webinars with

013the representative from SmartSocial that brings families and parents through how to set up phones with um parental protections, goes through uh Roblox and the dangers that you know for for children meeting online. Um it goes through Fortnite. goes through all of these different apps that that all of our kids are on all the time and and exposes some of the dangers that many um many families don't don't know about. So, uh when you see that message come through, make sure that you use the I will also include some uh instructions for how to do a QR code. Uh you know, I have a guest in the audience who needed some of those instructions in the past, Dr. McQuade. Um not to call you out, but uh so I I will send that out. Um, and

014I do want to thank again uh especially the edtech committee. Um, I sent them an email today uh a followup on the event and I I described it in one word. Wow. Uh, Trish Grainy just reminded me of that and that's really what it was. Uh, it was a tremendous feel-good event for the for the district. Um, so that's it and just look out for look out for that email. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Um, Mrs. Francisco, special reports and correspondence, please. >> Yes. Um, the board members have the minutes from the February 21st meeting for consideration. >> Like to make a motion to approve the following board of education meeting minutes. February 21st, 2023 budget regular meeting, February 21st, 2023 executive session. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. Any opposed? my

015president's report. I tried to not make it lengthy, but it was just a little bit impossible. So, this is my longest one so far. I apologize ahead of time. Um, in the last month, I attended so many events in West Milford. There are so many things to be proud of and happy about. Um, I saw what was to me the biggest wrestling event I've ever seen in my life at the high school. um said when I left that I would blog on how if there were any single moms out there that that's where they would want to be. Um the family reading nights um in our elementary schools, I've heard that they have been amazing and so much fun um and really inclusive to all of our students. Um I attended the Marshall Hill fundraiser.

016I had an amazing time. It was really fun. It was bingo in a tricky tray. I was really impressed by the principal and how he read every single number of the entire night without error. He didn't lose his voice or his mind. Um, and it was a long night, lots of fun. Um, I heard that PK trips um was awesome. The kids made really great things. I'm sure that there were a lot of traps uh events possibly. I only heard about that one was invited um and that they had a a very um amazing wizards event this month. Um I attended both of the high of the musicals. Um the high school musical was astonishing. The our West Milford students are so talented. I heard it from grandparents. I heard it from people that live

017in other towns. Um I also attended the Mary Poppins Jr. um production at Makipin every single uh night that I could, every night that they had it. Um and was just in love. U Mary Poppins is my favorite. Um digital citizenship night was the first time that I was able to attend. I was extremely impressed. I want to thank Dan and everyone in the district um that teaches our students about digital citizenship every day and every moment that you have. Um, I went home, I did a lot of my own research prior to it, um, on how to be a parent and talk to my 13-year-old about what's on his cell phone. And, um, I loved that the beginning of Dan's presentation, he had a picture of a saw, this big chopsaw, and he said

018to parents, "You wouldn't send your child into the garage to work on this chopsaw by themselves without giving them instruction." And I presented that to my 13-year-old, and I said, "We have a workshop downstairs, a wood workshop, and we've never sent you down there alone. and we've never sent you to work on those things because we train you and that's what we need to do with your cell phone. And he finally got it. Um, so I was given the words to use as a parent and it was amazing and I just want to thank everyone involved. It was so awesome and I'm looking forward to it again. Um, okay. The last thing I have um that is actually a surprise um is I need to thank Level One Games on Route 23 South. Um they're

019donating to West Milford Schools $500 um worth of um Pokemon. Um we have multiple of the all of these items. Um it is not on tonight's agenda. So I am going to ask the board to accept these as um a donation um that uh Mr. Novak could use for our clubs or as prizes or um you know maybe for special ed students as incentives or whatever it is anywhere. Um, I want to thank um Tim Epsy for making this happen. Um, knows that uh West Milward has a large Pokemon crowd of students that go into their store um and they want to support them. Um, the owners, Emoro and Cynthia. So, this is my soap box. Sorry. Um, and like they're just so amazing. Pokemon is a game that kids can learn math and reading

020skills if they know how to play and it is um really fun for them. So, I'm excited that, you know, hopefully the board will accept this donation tonight. Um, and the very last thing that I have is I'm excited to see tomorrow night's districtwide arts festival. Um, the showcases are always topnotch and our students and their talents. Come and see their talents in art, music, and dance. Dance? Maybe not. Um, I'll dance, but um anyway, uh I do have dance in my notes. That's weird. next year. Um, thank you. That's my president's report. Um, at this time, I will turn it over to public comment. This portion of the meeting is open to members of the public for their purpose of addressing resolutions on this agenda only. Members of the public who have requested to

021speak prior to the meeting will be recognized by their chair first. Each speaker will be given five minutes for a period of 30 minutes and then time permitting other public comment limited to five minutes per speaker will be allowed until the 30 minute period transpires. All members of the public speaking during this public comment period are asked to address topics listed in the agenda. All speakers are asked to sign the register provided and to give their full name, spell their last name, group affiliation if appropriate, and provide their address. Issues raised by members of the public may or may not be responded to by the board. All comments will be considered and a response will be forthcoming if and when appropriate. The board asks that members of the public be courteous and respectful of the

022rights of other individuals when speaking. Specifically, comments regarding students and employees of the board are discouraged and the board and the administration will not respond to them. Students and employees have specific legal rights afforded to them by the laws of New Jersey. The board is not responsible and is not liable for any comments made by members of the public. Members of the public should consider their comments in light of the legal rights of those affected or identified in their comments. Members of the public are reminded that they are legally responsible and liable for their comments. Miss Francisco, is there anyone signed up to speak? >> No one signed up. >> Okay. Is there anyone that would like to speak? My name is Courtney Stevenson. Um, I have a question under policy number N4. I am

023concerned about what the class size changes have been and also what the assignment of students is. It says that documentation is provided electronically. I know that that is only to board members and I would like it publicly said to everyone here and on camera what the class size changes are and what the assignment of su students which is student choice what the changes have been. Uh so my first response um is both of those are first reading um and um Dr. Enmoon Assuring Day are on the website under policy. Um so first reading means that tonight we um approve what we're working on and that we will continue to work on that in next month's committee meeting and then next board meeting it will come for a second um which will then make that policy

024into effect. Um, at this time the changes are in red. The highlights on the um website are highlighted in red. I'm told. Next speaker, please. Hello. My name is Stephanie Markard, 486 Lakeshore Drive in Huitt. I have a son in Makapin and one in Maple Road. I'm here tonight for the same reason most people are here, to address the cuts proposed by the superintendent. No one can argue that the funding formula in New Jersey is not broken. We all know that, as we've known for years since our district has started experiencing millions of dollars in cuts. Taxpayers, parents, and school officials need to continue to fight to have that formula fixed. Unfortunately, since these cuts started, there has been little done by the superintendent as far as problem solving or thinking outside the box to

025ensure our children receive the best education possible. Each year we have watched as cuts and tax increases are presented. What we haven't seen is any real initiative by the superintendent. There are numerous grants out there. So one would think our superintendent would have formed a grant writing committee that could help bring money into the district. State had millions in CTE grant money available to comprehensive high schools that could have been used to keep students in our high school, but I don't recall that being mentioned by our superintendent. I'd be willing to bet you have 20 teachers in this audience right now that would be more than willing to write grants for our district. While the presentation at the last board meeting touted a fiscally responsive budget, I think there should be a focus on being

026fiscally responsible and making education the top priority. Instead of cutting ELA, math teachers, and media specialists, maybe we could offer one world language and Macapenu in the high school. While having an array of languages available to students is nice, reading, writing, arithmetic, and digital lit literacy are the foundation of education and should never be cut while there are electives that can go. The super is the superintendent suggests cutting professional development for the staff, but has no issue spending 12,000 for two administrators to go to Disney. Since there has been only one actual professional development day in the last seven or eight years, I guess he figures the staff won't miss what they really don't have. I'm sure it was an oversight that the testing coordinator stipen wasn't listed because clearly we can't ask staff at

027every level to do more with less and not give this role to our director of education where it belongs. The superintendent listed cutting security in the middle school and high school. I imagine he'd feel differently if his office was housed in those buildings. We have a supervisor of technology and network systems specialists that make over 253,000 combined. Let's not forget the 37,000 for the web master. These positions could be combined and you could pay someone 100,000 to be your head of IT and hire another network technician for 50,000. That's 140,000 in savings right there. As for capital projects, nothing should be done unless it's 100% necessary if it means our kids lose anything academically. The pay to participate for clubs, band, athletics, etc. has been $75 for over 10 years. We all pay hundreds for

028sports and activities through Wreck. So, it's fair to say that raising that fee, even $150, is more than fair. Sadly, we have lost staff, and in all honesty, they can go other places. However, the ones who have lost the most are our children, and they can't leave. As far as the tax increase, anyone who paid attention in 2016 knew that eventually the 4% tax increase would come. As a matter of fact, it was Mrs. Francisco who advised that board that a 0% tax increase would only defer a higher increase to a later date. So, the board that voted for that 0% tax increase kicked the can down the road and now it's here. Naturally, there are cuts that have to be made. There's no way around that, but it can't be at the expense of

029our children. I've given just a few examples of things that can be done. As board members, none of you are in an enviable position. The superintendent has shown throughout his tenure in West Mover that education is not his priority. So, now that he has secured a 5-year contract in other district, the onus is on the board to put the education of our children first. West Mover teachers encouraged and nurtured my love of reading and writing. So I will leave the board with this from the great JK Rowling. Dark and difficult times lie ahead. Soon we must all face a choice between what is right and what is easy. I ask you to please choose wisely. Thank you. Next speaker. Hi everyone, my name is Christy Clave. I'm a teacher here. I also live in town

03031 Hilltop Road, Newf Foundland. Um, I just wanted to take a minute to recognize and say a sincere thank you to Jackie Adi, who has made such an impact on our students lives for all of her years of service in our district. She's an aid in my class. Um, she's not only the most kind and loving person I know, but she has sustained many years of working in my classroom as my seamless right hand. We will be at a loss without her, but we are happy to celebrate her. And don't worry, we are already doing emergency drills where we call Mrs. Adi to find out where something is and how to handle Mrs. Clave when she's out of control. Um, but in all seriousness, uh, Jackie Adi, you have done so much for so many

031and never want the limelight, but you always deserve it. [Applause] >> Is there anyone else that would like to speak? >> Hi, my name is Brendan Kenny. live at 280 Highrest Drive. Um, and I really just wanted to talk about three main concerns that I had in regards to the plan to cut media specialists. I don't know any of the media specialists personally, but I can only tell you what my children um say about them and and how just they're incredible people. My concern is is really three tiered. Number one, um our rotation for our kids and um our teachers. So, um already we have three media specialists for now five schools. So my I would be curious to know how a rotation would work that wouldn't burden both the student or the teacher. And

032I think that that's a really fair question to ask. Um we can't keep asking more and more and more of our teachers um and and paying them um less than what many in the county average um would be looking at and it's no surprise that we lose a lot of our faculty for that reason. Second thing I would ask is in January of 2023 um is requested that media specialists um help teach um this uh course content and um that that is a class that's going to be proposed I'm guessing for next year. So my question would be cutting three media specialists to one um how would we ask one individual to teach that class in five different schools in addition to run the exact same responsibilities um that our students um and our that

033our faculty members are being asked to do. And then finally I was part of the redistricing committee here um with with Mr. Novak and and many others. And um I'm passionate about the education in this district. I went here um as a 2003 graduate. We have some really amazing people sitting in the audience and the way that you retain and and keep really positive um educational environment is is by retaining and keeping your own. Um and I can't tell you how many great people we've seen come and go um because of our inability to retain our own. And you know, will a school survive without a media specialist? Perhaps. Will a school survive without, you know, two or three teachers that we could cut? Sure. But at what point do we really look at what

034we're doing in the school and say to ourselves, "Enough is enough." And you know, I know the battle. I've seen the battle at a high school level. I'm a high school teacher in Bergen County and I've seen the the competition between BY Tech and the struggle that West Milford is facing against it. I see that and I see it in athletics and academics and what they can offer and it's it's it's a challenge, but the retention of our own is is has to be a priority here. Um, and again, I coach a lot of the kids in this town. Um, I coach a lot of teachers, kids. They're just the most amazing people. And, you know, I'm really hopeful that we can come to a resolution that we won't have to uh to cut important,

035meaningful people from this district. So, thank you. >> Thank you. Do we have another speaker? Dr. Grath. [Music] Hello everyone. I'm Dr. Mercag Gooff, resident at 34 Central Street, and unfortunately I have something typed up tonight. Okay, so in the last few weeks, multiple parents have reached out to me to speak on their behalf during this meeting. After posting last month's preliminary budget, here is what parents are having concerns with. First being the loss of media specialists. My understanding is that there is they are a vital source to our students and their literacy education as well as their digital lit literacy education. Now that New Jersey public schools are required to teach media literacy, who will be responsible for this curriculum? I hope that extra work is not being put on your already strained teachers.

036One parent said to me, quote, "Teachers are spread thin with their current schedules, some including Spanish and health in addition to other mandatory curriculum." How could they possibly add anything else? She also pointed out that our district has a great program called digital citizen night, citizenship night, which is offered to grades three through eight. Currently having the media specialists at the elementary level is what helps this program flourish as this progresses to the other grades. So what I brought here tonight is what? So what I have here is just a book, right? No big deal. Not just any book, but one that the media specialist helped my daughter pick out. She gets so excited when she comes home with these on Monday nights because she gets to show me what book she picked out and

037we read it together at bedtime. I have seen her gain independence with both reading and digital literacy because of this. This confidence is due to her amazing kindergarten teacher and the literacy specialist at Westbrook. She'll actually at night point out the words, "Look, Mommy," a red word, "Look, mommy," a CVC word, and she'll go through this with me, seeing her excitement is something. The loss of media specialists will leave an immediate and lasting gap in our children's education. I understand that there is a fundamental problem, increased costs and declining revenue. I need you as the board to think outside the box. And it's like there's an echo in here. Be proactive rather than reactive. I need to see where I need I need to know as a resident where we can be granted funds elsewhere

038rather than putting the strain on our teachers, children, our residents in the community to bridge this gap. What I, as many others, have witnessed in this vicious cycle is declining state aid, cutting programs, cutting school positions, further declining state aid, closing the largest and most centrallylo school, taking that much needed stabilization aid money for closing said school, closing, I use with quotes, and putting it into a program that does not guarantee consistent revenue. Now you're foreseeing another financial deficit and trying to figure out where to take this money from. Transportation is one area in particular that needs to be looked at more closely as I cannot understand it. How can we save money on buses? Maybe closing the most centrallylo school wasn't wise since kids have to be bus now further from their home and

039daycarees. Maybe closing the most centrallylo school wasn't wise since programs now have to be moved from other elementary schools to ones that are further away. Adding to transportation costs, something needs to change because families, staff, and residents cannot take much more of this. Thank you. Thank you. Do we have another speaker? I found it >> thanks to the website being amazing. Now, Mr. Winston, Mrs. Stevenson, hang on one second. >> I was sitting on the board, but >> Mrs. Stevenson, hang on one second. Is there someone else that would like to speak before Mrs. Stevenson? Yes. I'm sorry. I have to ask you to just wait. >> Okay. Hi, my name is Teresa Lindholm. I live at 41 Somerville Road in Hwitt, New Jersey, in case anybody didn't know it was New Jersey. Um, I

040want to thank you for your time and your commitment to the board. I want to address my concerns, especially about the redistricting of the schools. I feel like you had one plan and then you hired someone to fulfill your plan. There was no plan B. There was no plan C and you got someone to fulfill your plan. What if there were budget cuts? What if there was a lower enrollment and what if what if a school had to close and now here we are and um the redistricting hasn't even happened and we're already cutting the budget. We're losing teachers. I'm worried. We're cutting the budget. We're cutting programs. I'm worried. I'm worried about the students. I'm worried about the teachers. I'm worried about the class sizes. I'm scared. The rumor is you're leaving. You made

041decisions when you were vested in the school and now you're leaving. How are this? What are your decisions that you're going to make when you're not no longer vested? I'm just I'm just concerned. Why are we here again? There was no plan B. We shouldn't be here again. You knew that budgets were going to You knew budgets were going to be cut. I think that you all should have been a little bit more prepared. Maybe we could have we could have lost one media specialist, but now we're cutting three. We all should have been a little bit more prepared for this. Rumors that we're going to have to close another school in two years. There should have been a plan B. There should have been a plan C. I'm just I'm just nervous and I

042just don't know why that we're here again. Thank you. Thank you. >> Although I would let Miss >> I know. I'm sorry. Go ahead. My name is Liz McUade, 32 Bisset Drive, West Milford, New Jersey. Also, I'm speaking to several agenda items this evening. First, I want to take time to congratulate and thank um Karen Wilm or Karen I have to write it down. Barrero, our supervisor of transportation, as well as Mrs. Adisci. Both of these women served our district well. So, I think Mrs. Clave said it and I know Miss Wilm has been an integral part as well. I would also like to welcome Dr. Resa to West Milford and our school community and congratulate Dr. Matlo who I did see earlier in the room on his new position at McAppin School. Dr. Mr.

043Matlo has extensive experience and will be a huge asset to our middle school. We as West Milford are lucky. All of our administrative positions in West Milford are extremely important. Strong leaders inspire others to dream more, learn more, and do more. As a parent of two school of two daughters in this community, I also wanted to speak tonight on the agenda item which is a hand carry for Dr. Dr. Anamone's resignation. Before his arrival, this district had five superintendents in an 8-year period. Dr. Anamone provided West Milford with consistency, leadership, and strength. And I want to take a moment to personally congratulate him in his new position and thank him for the years that he gave us as a Highlander. Dr. Anamone, thank you for being a visionary leader that set ambitious goals for those

044around you. Thanks for supporting the students with special needs and being committed to all students to grow academically and socially. You do not look for recognition in an often thankless position. You endured multiple fiscal challenges that our community faced over the years and still provided our children with the best quality education that you and the board felt at that time. So, as we look forward to our future to the board, it is my hope that you'll look to fill the position with a strong educational leader that loves the community, has the strength that it will take to face these financially difficult times and find a leader that remains student focused. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mrs. Francisco. Are we close to the 30 minutes? And is there another speaker? Okay, we have 10 minutes. >>

045Oh, hi. Uh, my name is Lisa Bingham. I'm at 230 Lakeshore Drive in Huitt. Um, and I just wanted to talk about some of the proposed cuts, especially in special education. Um, particularly, and I'm just going to be super selfish regarding Makipin and the social worker. I know that, uh, one of the two social workers is, uh, potentially going to be cut. Um but just in general with special education having those cuts um that could be potentially hazardous with um special education and just like the um after shock and after effects from the parents and looking at like if you look at potentially um with the parents arguing later on. I just wanted everyone to be cognizant of that. Um as you know we could be a really argumentative bunch. Um, but that being said,

046that's secondary. But I really wanted to address tonight um the social worker role um and just talk about the two that we have currently and how essential they are and how much they do and and how um how difficult it would be to lose any of them, especially at Makipin. Um as you guys know, middle schoolers I see sometimes um as my daughter went into middle school this year. Uh middle school is such an interesting age and such an interesting time and um like for mental health and having these case managers there and these social workers helping them as they transition through puberty is so essential and to lose one would be terrible. Um Tracy Jenkarelli is my daughter's um social worker and case manager and um she uh sorry I'm so nervous. I I

047forgive me. I just kind of need to warm up. But uh she uh thank you. She basically was like a gift uh given to me by God or Dr. McQuade at the time. Same. Um but basically she she was she's amazing. They're both amazing. Um sorry, but uh she she's so amazing and she's not like somebody who just like handles an IEP or or just like tomorrow um Shaura is going to be going into her club and sometimes she isn't like she needs some cues. she needs some help. She doesn't just go over like the basics of IEPs and special education. She's going to like I'll touch base with her and she'll help Shora like and you know coordinate with the teachers to move into the clubs and things like that and to go through

048the different and it's not just my one my daughter it's all these children and and her whole case load and there's so much of an umbrella of what they do with mental health as well as the educational process and so many things I have no idea about because I'm just a parent and I'm so dopey. But there's so many things that they do that so many roles beyond what they do. And the idea that there would only be one at Makapin is is baffling to me. And the idea that this cut would happen is startling. So I hope that as someone mentioned before, using some out of the box scenarios to possibly save and retain this position would be wonderful. Um I have no idea what they are and I would certainly be willing to

049explore that as a parent as my limited role. Um, but I would really be open to seeing what we could do to preserve that position and I would advocate for it and beg for it. So, thank you. >> Thank you. Next. Hi, Kristen Sieber, 16 Hillview Court. Um, I didn't plan to come up, so if I'm a little disheveled, um, excuse me. But, um, I'm going to kind of echo a lot of sentiments of what people have already said. Um, I've been in the district for a very long time, aside from growing up here and whatnot. Um, and I've been in other districts before. I understand cuts need to be made, but what I need the board to realize, aside from the admin, is how important some of those cuts that are being proposed are.

050Um, media specialists, we don't have enough to begin with. Um, you know, for example, I right now I'm an encore teacher, so I'm in all grades in the entire building. Right now, my fifth graders are working on um anformational report and they need books that they need to be able to actually research. I have a media specialist who went above and beyond outside of the two buildings to get a book for a few students that we didn't have access to. If they needed it, it was ordered on Amazon and here in two days for the most part. Um, and as a staff member, I can't tell you how many times being in my new role that I'm in that I needed to go and get the support from them in any kind of a a

051techy thing with Google or this or that, you know, I'm making all these reports for all these meetings that I'm in now with admin and I can't look stupid. You know, I'm a staff member. I need your help. And without a doubt, they're always there. Um, and on the flip side, I have um a little kindergartener who's in district as well now. And the highlight of her week, aside from music, is the fact that she gets to go to library, not once, but twice a week. Once a week, they get to go read a story together. And another day, they kind of do all kinds of steam and different activities and projects. She now comes home and teaches all her stuffed animals what they learned. So again, I know cuts need to be made, but

052you know, we are really, really thin on music. We are really thin on our arts, and this is something that our district prides themselves in. You know, that's something that drives people to West Milford. We have a district arts festival. You know, we have the digital citizenship night. That doesn't happen without those media specialists. It also does not happen with all the other staff. But I I bet you you could pull any single teacher in this audience right now, every single one of them is going to tell you hands down more than 10 times a week that media specialist, whether she's in the building or not in the building because she's at another building parttime, they're there. You send them an email 10 11 o'clock at night. I didn't forget. I just didn't get to

053you and there's your answer. There's your resource. There's your direction. There's your everything. So, just asking you before you like start to make cuts. If you need to, they're going to kill me for this, but take a walk into their classroom, see what they're doing with kids. Ask kids, what are you learning? ask the teachers what do you need the support and resources in because our admin are stretched in too. So they are another resource for us as staff members to go to. So that was just the one thing. The other thing um is that to kind of piggy off the counseling as a parent in district and of a young parent with all these kids coming out of COVID, I am extremely nervous at the fact that we have even on the board that

054we're going to look at cutting counselors or cutting any kind of social work with all of our social emotional learning goals as a board and as a district. It's very concerning. you know, we should be looking at how do we get funding to now have a full-time counselor in every building, let alone cutting them for both the support staff as well as the kits and families. So, thank you. >> Thank you. We need to extend. Do we have another speaker? Well, our last speaker will then be Mrs. Stevenson. And in her defense, she comes to every meeting and is normally the only speaker. >> I am. >> Yeah, I am. So, sorry. >> Sorry. Sorry. So, I did find the information. Thank you. The website is great. Um, and this is something that was important

055for me to bring up because it's not something that's public as much as some of the other things. So, what the policy change says is 25 kindergarteners at max. 25. That like you've lost your marbles. completely. I'm sorry, but you have um when everybody was talking here tonight, I was thinking how wonderful it is that you have all these people here. You have a an amazing community. When you were proposing to close a school, I don't know whose idea it was. Um you created committees. There was the fiscal committee, correct, Barbara? There was all different type of committees. What if you made committees on who could write grants and how to research grants and how to fund? You have this community that is more than willing to help. Unfortunately, we are losing a great superintendent

056whose time here was very well stable. We need to really start thinking outside of the box in how we can help each other. Thank you. That's our um 30 minute time. If there is another speaker, we could look to extend if the board wanted. Is there anyone else that wanted to speak? >> Seeing none, I'd like to close public comments. Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? >> All right. I just have to make two amendments to the agenda as presented. First one is going to be on page seven. It is personnel student affairs resolution number 12. We're going to add a substitute for a special projects. Name is Julie Keefe. Ju l i e ke e f. And this is just pending medical clearance from her. And then we are going

057to pull on page eight personnel student affairs resolution number 16. That'll be pulled from the agenda. >> That's it. >> Number 16. >> Can I have a motion to adopt the agenda? >> I move to adopt the agenda as to adopt the amended agenda. >> Second. >> All in favor? I. Any oppose? >> Mrs. Lockwood. >> Okay. I make a motion to approve items one through four in education. >> Second. >> Any questions? >> I have a question. Um, Barbara, can you explain what number one is? Yeah. >> Oh, that's Dan. Sorry, I didn't know who. Um, >> this is just Sorry. This is an amendment to our COVID relief fund grants. Um, shifting shifting uh line items. >> Okay. Any other comments or questions? >> Roll call. >> Mrs. Lachlood. >> Yes. >> Mr.

058Go. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Mr. Rano, >> yes. >> Mr. Sidowitz, >> yes. >> Mrs. Dwire, >> yes. >> Mrs. Mr. Lippy, >> yes. >> Mrs. O'Brien, >> yes. >> Mrs. Romeo, >> yes. >> Uh, number five will be after executive session. Um, >> Mr. Sidowitz, would you please do personnel? >> I'd like to move items 1 through 15, >> 1 through 15, and 17 through 35 under personnel and student affairs. >> Second. Mhm. >> And carry separately. You're doing >> just because it's kind of got >> on its own. >> Any questions or comments? >> Something. >> Um, >> where is it? >> Oh, on number nine. Um, is that salary correct? Because that's a $22,000 raise, I believe. >> Uh, that is correct. Correct. Salary. >> Deb. >> Um, I just first of

059all, I'm a little embarrassed because there's so many teachers out in the audience tonight and there's so many of them that taught my children and I love them all. So, I hate to be like the mother who picks out their favorite child. Um, and I usually I I usually say the dog's my favorite child, but that's another story. Um, under number four, uh, Mr. Komari, I >> favorite child. >> Oh my god, he was one of my >> Oh, >> I am so super bummed. I've known this gentleman since he was a little rugrat. He is one of the nicest people who turned out to be one of the nicest people and a phenomenal teacher. It is a big loss to our district that he is resigning. Um and I and from what I have

060been told and I I'm praying that it's true that he's moving away. Um I will adopt you. You can take my son's room. He won't mind. Oh, you're married. Never mind. That little awkward. Um, but seriously of another, as Kate has mentioned, all the wonderful families here in West Milford Township. That's another one as well. Um, but you're still one of my favorites as well. Thank you. Any other comments or questions? Tara. Um, similarly, number um, three and number five, as a Maple Road mom, um, I just want to thank Mrs. a DC um for everything she's done for Maple Road. And anybody who's part of Maple Road knows that Mrs. Clave's class is part of the heart of Maple Road and Mrs. ADC is a big part of that. And Mr. Chevlin um who

061was our assistant custodian um he was invaluable to us at Maple Road um with the parent organization. So I just want to thank both of them for their service and for everything they've done for the district. Anyone else comments, questions? >> Um, I had comment. >> I just want to welcome Dr. uh Resza to the district. Um, it's on the agenda tonight to be approved. New director of special services. You have some big shoes to fill. But, um, looking forward to working with you. Um, I second that comment. Um, welcome. I also want to say um for Miss Barero, supervisor of transportation, those are some pretty big shoes to fill too. Um and um we will miss you. Thank you for your time here. I think um if I remember correctly, Karen's been with us

062for over 25 years in the transportation department. Um and being a child of a transportation department person, I know that's a lot of headaches. Um so thank you. Um, and number two, Miss Kulak at Makipin. Oh, those are some shoes to fill, too, because I call parents call the main office secretary all the time with stress, right? Whatever it is. And she's just wonderful, and she's so good to our kids, and she donates to their fundraisers with a smile and everything. And we will really miss her. Um, so thank you. Does any other board member have any other comments or questions after mine? Seeing your non roll call, please. >> Mr. Sidowitz, >> yes. >> Mr. Lippy, >> yes. >> Mrs. Rico, >> yes. >> Mrs. Lockwood, >> yes. >> Mr. Gino, >> yes. >>

063Mrs. Dwer, >> yes. >> Mrs. O'Brien, >> yes. >> Mrs. Romeo, >> I abstain from 14 and 34 and I say yes to the rest. >> All right. Congratulations. If uh Mr. Resza, would you like to speak? >> Dr. Resza, you have a couple. >> Dr. Resza, sorry. >> Uh, good evening. Thank you very much uh for the time to to speak. Uh, my name is Derek Resa. Uh, I'm the Thank you, new director of special services here in West Milford. It is a joy uh to be here. I just wanted to to thank their board for their and and Dr. Adamone for the opportunity to be here. um and the administration that I've gotten to meet so far and the prior administration as well and for the staff that I've met and for the

064warm welcome. Uh I also want to thank my family uh my wife, my son, my daughter. We're home right now. Hopefully they're in bed. Um and um and I just want to let you know in the community that I'm a parent as well uh and and really really value that piece of education for them. Um also I also want to acknowledge my two aunts who are living in the Hunan Developmental Center um where I live. uh they've been developing disability their whole life and they're a reason why I'm standing here today. So I just wanted to thank you for that and thank them. Um also 20 years in special education um school psychologist by background. So mental health and the whole child approach to education is a big part of why I'm here and I

065hope to do that and serve your community well in that regard. And lastly just service and community is a big part of of what we all are here for and I just want to thank you again for the opportunity to serve your community. Thank you. >> Thank you. Congratulations Dr. Matt lives. >> Oh, thank you. Thank you. >> Oh, wait. He's doing the show here. >> Thank you. >> Good evening. [Laughter] >> All right. So, the uh the hardest part actually of walking in tonight is uh seeing you guys back there. UGL staff UGL. Uh that was hard. I'm not going to lie, sitting up here now, I'm just like, uh oh, this actually happened. Um what what made I think us work, and I'm still going to talk to you guys here, is that

066we were never divisive. We worked together. Uh parents, community, our staff always, right? We were always one. That's why UGL was Sorry, I know there's other elementary principles here of the best school in this district. So, thank you. Absolutely. Uh Mrs. Reinhold here and I I bring her up because she get I purposely bring her up because she came out of retirement to come back uh to Mac middle school. I think that says a lot about obviously the school in itself to take over. Yeah, these are big shoes to fill. Of course they are. But at the same time I am so lucky to work with the Macan teachers the community see the passion here obviously tonight. Mr. P can't wait. Star Wars day, here we come. All right. And seriously, I don't want to

067take everyone's time, but thank you. Thank you. Thank you to the board. Appreciate your vote of confidence. Dr. Ano, thank you very much. Mr. Novak, Deino, Dr. Mcuade. Absolutely. Thank you. Thank you, everybody. Have a great night. >> Thank you, Dr. Matlo. [Applause] I'd like to move resolution number 36 under personnel and student affairs hand carry. >> Second. >> Questions and comments. >> Go ahead. Will >> Dr. Andimone, I'd like to thank you personally for all the work that you've done for the school district. As Dr. McQuade had mentioned before this was a rotating door for superintendent for quite a long time and that was supported by a business administrator and she held us through to that and now there's a team there was a team that was put together for 6 years and a

068lot of huge changes were made during that time. you navigated us during listen during your tenure. The As the District Turns series had quite a bit of characters that ruffled feathers and you handled it with a lot of grace and honestly anybody who knows me knows that I wouldn't have done the same thing. So I give you a lot of commendation for for that. But during the course of your tenure, you had to navigate through state aid cuts. And in the process, we are restructuring the district district in a big way. And it's going to continue. And that's because the ball was rolling with an a leader at the helm. And that couldn't have been any more critical for this district than any other thing that was happening. So, thank you for all your hard

069work. Anybody who's ever doubted that you're a Highlander, let me tell you, you are a true Highlander in my eyes. So, thank you. >> Thank you, Will. Any other comments, questions? >> Um, Dr. Enwin, I just want to thank you. Um, echoing what Will said, one of the biggest challenges I think in your tenure was navigating COVID and um, you know, looking back on memories um, family members and friends were always super impressed with how our district handled it and um, I think that's a tend to um, your leadership and I want to thank you for um, you know, your listening ear through the years from when I was a rep on SR RT and even um when I first started this we met and I was like what are we doing? Like where are

070we going? What do I have to do and um you're always been very frank and I appreciate that. So I wish you luck. Um and I uh you know I wish you nothing but the best. So thank you Harry. Alex, um we've had like we've talked about this and you and I have had ups and downs and um but we've always worked for the betterment of the district and I wish um I wish you all the luck and all the best wishes for your new tenure in Ridgefield and I hope they're as appreciative as we are for your ability to call snow days. [Applause] That's true. >> I second that. >> Any other comments? Um, then I will give mine. Uh, my husband asked me last night why I was so emotional about this. Um,

071and I said, "It feels like a divorce, and I've never even had one." Because, um, you know, to quote Alex and I, we had a meeting on Thursday, and I was ranting and raving, and he said to me, "We're not going to fight about this, Kate." And I said, "Alex, this isn't a fight. This is a discussion, and you're going to have it." And he just sat back and he listened to the end. And he listened to the end. And, um, that's what I'm most thankful for. um that he listens. Um I know that as a board member um I know that as a parent you only see one um part of the job of a superintendent. I also happen to know that as a staff member in education in New Jersey in 23 years,

072you really only see one part of a superintendent. Um, as I wear all my different hats as a human in all the roles that I play, um, I've told Alex, he's definitely in the top three superintendents I've ever seen. Um, and when I told him that, he said back, "All right, well, what's my competition? Who are the other two and what do they do better?" Um, and we had that discussion, too. Um, he has never turned away my phone call, even before I was board president. if he doesn't pick up, he would text, "I'll call you back in the meeting immediate." Um, he has answered every single question, even when I completely did not like the answer. Um, and more than anything, I've seen him have more heart. Um, and I know right now he

073is, this is the most uncomfortable he's probably ever been in in our district because he does not like, like Dr. Mcuade said, any recognition. Um, but if there's one thing, if you know me, heart is important. Um, and it's rare. Um, but there are times where I've seen this current superintendent stay until well after midnight because of the safety of one of our students. I've never seen that in my own career and any other superintendent. Um, so I this is a sad day for me. Um, and that was a very long speech that I didn't plan. Um, but I am sad to see you go. So, thank you. Uh, Mrs. Francisco, roll call. >> No, that's true. >> Mr. Sidowitz. >> Yep. >> Mr. Lippy. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Rico. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Lockwood.

074>> Yes. >> Mr. Gino. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Dwire. >> Yes. >> Mrs. O'Brien. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Romeo. >> Yes. under operations and finance. I'd like to make a motion to move to items one. >> Second, >> any questions or comments? >> I I just I have one question about number six. Has um the high school looked into any other photographers other than Lors because they seem to be the most expensive. >> Um I I can't answer that question. Um >> I'm just I'm just >> We just get the request from the high school and we maybe Mr. Strian's can respond to it. >> Have you seen others? I've only ever seen Lor Lor and there's some I can't remember crushion. I think >> I was just curious. I've only ever sold in anyone

075anywhere from >> Patterson. Well, I'll look at to see if >> No, I'm just curious because I'd like to save our kids a little money here. >> Okay. >> Any other questions? >> This contract is good for two years, so I don't if you want to push it off or whether you want to. >> No. Okay. Seeing as no discussion, roll call, please. >> Mr. Greeno, >> yes. >> Mrs. Rico, >> yes. >> Mrs. Lockwood, >> yes. >> Mrs. Dwire, >> yes. >> Mr. Sidowitz, >> yes. >> Mrs. O'Brien, >> yes. >> Mr. Lippy, >> yes. >> Mrs. Romeo, >> yes. >> Like to make a motion to move item 13 under operations and finance. >> Second. Any discussion? Roll call, please. >> Mr. Gino, >> abstain. >> Mrs. Rico, >> yes. >> Mrs. Lockwood,

076>> yes. >> Mrs. Dwire, >> yes. >> Mr. Sidowitz, >> yes. >> Mrs. O'Brien, >> yes. >> Mr. Lippy, >> yes. >> Mrs. Romeo. >> I would like to make a motion to move items 14 through 17 >> under operations and finance. >> Any discussion? >> Seeing as none, roll call. >> Mr. Greeno, >> yes. >> Mr. Sidowitz, >> yes. >> Mr. Lippy, >> yes. >> Mrs. O'Brien, >> yes. >> Mrs. Lockwood, >> yes. >> Mrs. Drier, >> yes. Mrs. Rico, >> yes. >> And Mrs. Romeo, >> yes. >> Mr. Sidowitz's policy. >> I move to approve items 1 through four under policy. >> Second. >> Yes, Miss Mr. Gino. >> Thank you. So in um policy under 5120 assignments assignment of students that pertain to all students. It's just the paragraph seems pretty vague.

077That's why I was asking. >> So >> I know we crossed out a lot of things. >> What's that? >> Elementary. >> Okay. And and who could potentially anybody in elementary can go? Well, they could if there's space availability, if there's uh it's not going to push us over into opening another section, there's uh there's a list of some of the variables I guess you could say that we would take into consideration. Special education, um fiscal efficiency, maybe classroom space, I believe, is one of them. So, potentially anybody K5, obviously there's only one middle and high school, so by then. And if a student had a 504 IEP, any of those, could they pretty easily go to whichever school they wanted to? >> Yeah, every IEP is just a little different than every other IEP.

078So, it it depends. >> 504, they could go to any school they wanted to, right? >> Potentially, but you know, again, it doesn't include um busing. So, if you live at uh Apua and you want to go to UG, you'd have to drive >> you have to drive >> back and forth, okay, >> every day. So, that's usually a pretty big deterrent. But um it does afford parents some flexibility um but it also gives the district some flexibility as well. So it's a it's a reasonable compromise. The committee worked hard at this and uh it looks pretty good. >> So like those are big questions too, right? Cuz your IEP, a student with an individualized education plan, some of those IEPs dictate and determine which school you're going to go to based on what program

079we have at each school. um a 504 as an educator. I mean, I think everyone know we should be able to fulfill those, you know, through our INRS plans, our 504s and our RTI discussions coming up. You know, um this was a first reading. I It's my hope that the committee goes back and, you know, I've heard it multiple times over the last year. Well, Alex, you know, does a good job at this and well, Alex isn't going to be doing this part anymore, >> right? So it needs to be filled out. What do we think as an administration and a board and board rights policies? You guys need to really think this through. What is it that gets precedent over others? You know, and I know there's a lot of disagreement or whatever, but

080next month's going to be the Yeah. Any other questions or comments? Go ahead, Deb. Um, pertaining to that, I just want to um publicly announce that we work very very hard on, you know, breaking it down the committee as a whole. Uh, we all came up with very good um viewpoints and um uh collaborating on whatifs, okay? So that we wouldn't have an issue of we didn't see this coming. I mean, granted, things could happen that nobody could see it happening. All right. Um, and yeah, we it I agree we need to have something in writing, especially since Dr. Anamon is going to no longer be at the helm. Um, but that being said, I I I personally believe and and Will maybe could jump, you know, you could agree or disagree with me on

081on saying this. I really think we've kind of worked our structure down so that there is something concrete in writing to go by under the circumstances. >> Go ahead. >> I agree with Mrs. O'Brien. Uh, the committee did work hard on this. We did put criteria and we gave enough flexibility and enough rigidity to make sure that the policy could stand kind of the test of time versus being too too one-sided one way or the other. So, I agree with this policy as is and I hope my colleagues support it. >> I'll be very honest, I did not read it yet because I saw it was the first reading. I had a lot to do this week. So, I take back my comments. I have to go back and I I'm very sorry. So, um,

082I didn't mean that you guys did not work hard in any manner, and I know that you always do, and and full disclosure, I did not read this one yet. I will promise. I >> I'm just And I'm also announcing it to the public that, you know, this wasn't just a nillywilly kind of uh uh um, you know, policy bringing to the table here. >> Yeah. Thank you. >> Go ahead. So under uh uh we had a a speaker mention uh 2312. I just want to know for the state of New Jersey are there guide guidelines for class sizes and do you happen to know what they are? And >> so for special education there are guidelines hard guidelines for general ed districts have flexibility >> at this a guideline for kindergarten which is 25.

083>> Okay. For other grades, you can It's not a best practice to cram too many into a classroom. This is just a I think it said it's a range and then a maximum. >> Yeah. So, I saw your range 20 to 23 for pretty much the elementary grades. There are probably school districts or there's >> in the state that have more than that. Yeah. You have the desired range is 20 to 23 >> on kindergarten through third grade. on kindergarten through third grade if the desired student is 20 to 23 with a max of 25 because that's kindergarten, right? You're saying the limit of 30? Like so a class could have 30. >> I don't believe it's likely, but that's what the policy says. Yeah, >> that's what I'm asking. So the state says you

084could have up to 30. >> I think you could have more than that. I don't think it's a best policy, a best practice. I mean, I've I know there are some districts that go to 30 and then they split a class. So, if there's 90 students, they have three sections and when they go to 91, they open a fourth section. So, we're not there now, >> right? >> I don't think we'll be there this coming year or the year after. You know, on the other hand, additional state aid cuts are going to continue to increase class size. It's just uh an eventuality. So we don't think kindergarten would go to 30 where we would add an aid. >> I don't I don't believe kindergarten would. No. Okay. No. I mean our numbers >> I haven't

085checked in probably a week or so. >> So on the on policy there's an aster says kindergarten may reach a maximum limit of 30 only if a teacher's aid is >> special class aid. >> Yeah. So that's a lot >> for kindergarten. >> Oh absolutely. Yeah, >> thank you. Right. Go ahead, Deb. >> I just want to uh again uh in committee we we this class size issue was brought up. Um I and and Dr. Anamon, I know you're the superintendent. I beg to differ. I really think that there is a state guideline as far as maximum in a classroom. Um minimum maximum kind of thing. I I I don't know why. It's stuck in my head and uh if you prove me wrong, I'm wrong. um for the for the public. This is just

086a recommendation. This is not a mandatory thing. We are not out to um uh um create like these super classrooms. We we we do realize that um especially the younger students um a class size of 20 in in kindergarten is like a class size of 40 in in you know middle high school because the intensity that the needs of the children etc. Um um I I have a feeling Mr. side. It's we're going to have to maybe revisit this next month because I'm listening to the crowd. I'm going maybe they have a point and we need to maybe we'll we will address it again. This is the first reading which just means that we've we're presenting it. We want feedback. We're getting the feedback and we'll go back to to the drawing board. But again,

087this is these are just there's a parameter and that's what we're trying to we're trying to get the parameters set for for our classrooms. >> Thanks Tammy. >> Welcome Ray. >> Other comments, questions? >> Point of information I guess uh well actually it's not anything to do with our proceeding. This is question is through you Mr. Romeo to Mr. Brown for a first reading of a policy that includes changing class sizes. If we approve the first reading tonight and then we go back and say we take a maximum class size of 30 and change it to 28, is that substantial enough to be effect to the effect that it needs to be a first reading again? >> I don't believe so. >> Okay. Thank you. Thank you, Billy. >> All right, seeing as none, we'll

088help you. >> Mr. Sidowitz, >> yes. >> Mr. Lippy, >> yes. >> Mrs. O'Brien, >> yes. >> Mr. Greeno, >> um, yes to one and three, no two and four. >> Mrs. Rico, >> yes. >> Mrs. Stwyer. >> Yes. To one and three. No to two and four. >> Mrs. Lockwood. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Romeo. >> Yes. >> Report on parks and recon. >> Um we had a meeting I believe it was last week. Um the I I won't go into every single item. Um, but the they are in desperate need of lifeguards at Bubbling Springs. Um, so if anybody knows of someone interested, um, you have to be 16 or 15 for lifeguards. Um, and you have to be working toward having a lifeguard certification. Um, the application is online. And also, um, they

089need a seasonal nurse or nurses for bubbling springs. It's for 8 weeks in the summer. 8:15 to 415. Starting salary is $30.75. I guess they lost their um previous um nurse, so they're in need of another one. And um I know there is a lot of heartache about the swim team and it did come up in the recck committee. And um I just wanted to share some information that they shared with the committee um that the Devil Rays um swim team is um they're in the process of evaluating the program. Uh there's a lot of equipment that needs repair and other activities um that can take place at the lake in place of it. Um I will tell you guys that um the wreck committee really pushed back a lot on this. Um, I know

090that there's a lot of there's actually 61 swimmers and 44 families affected. Um, but the the crux of it is the program is losing money. Um, the equipment is 25 years old and needs to be replaced. Um but on the bright side, they're thinking of putting in um one of those inflatable slides to try and draw more people to Bubbling Springs because registration is very low and um they need to bring the entire um lake into the black again. So um otherwise um the township fireworks will be Friday, June 30th with a rain date of July 1st. I know Mrs. Dwire loves the fireworks. So, um so that was it for um parks and wreck >> safety committee. Um we don't have we haven't had a meeting. Thank you. Superintendent Brown people. >> Um our

091next meeting is Thursday. >> State County School Association. >> Uh our next meeting is uh May 8th at 6 o'clock. We just had one um this month uh where um they uh the unsung hero uh Giana who came in earlier >> New Jersey school boards association. Uh, one thing I want to draw our attention to, board members, is the fact on March 9th, the New Jersey School Boards Association released a report, firearm safety process, programs, and practices for safety in school, home, and community. Um obviously with the tragedies that continue to happen and that includes uh the most recent in Nashville. Um this is a well these are well-developed studies by the New Jersey School Boards Association. And between this and the mental health uh task force that was put together several years back, it's

092something that maybe we could personally endeavor to read more about and share our thoughts with the community. Um, this is a down the line announcement. Uh, at we annually have a New Jersey School Boards Association convention in Atlantic City and that takes place in October. Uh, one of the highlights of the uh of the convention is seeing different school districts showcase their arts and their music. And I know that our our talented students would really bring a lot to something like this. So a consideration for the future and that is my report. >> Great idea. Thank you. Um legislative. >> I forewarn you. You can go out and get a cup of coffee and I will still be talking when you return. Um on March 16th, the Assembly Education Committee approved the following. Suicide prevention

093training would require additional school additional school district personnel to complete a training program on suicide prevention. Under current law, public school teaching staff members receive instruction in a suicide prevention in suicide prevention as part of their professional development requirements. This bill provides a school district employee who is not subject to the current requirement and an and an employee of a contracted service provider who has regular contact with students would be required to complete a one-time training program in suicide prevention awareness and response which is identified by the New Jersey Department of Education. Speaking about social media, we have a social media impact study would establish a commission on the effects of social media usage on adolescence to study the extent of social media usage in and out of public schools and to determine the effect

094that use has on students health and academic performance. Lyme disease prevention instruction would require school districts to incorporate guidelines developed by the New Jersey Department of Education regarding instruction and preventing and prevention of Lyme disease and other tickborn diseases into their comprehensive health and physical education curriculum in grades K through 12. Eliminating the high school exam exit exam would eliminate the high school graduation proficiency test which is required under current law to be taken in the 11th grade. Specifically, the bill would prohibit the state board of education to re from requiring as part of the standards from graduation from secondary school any secondary school any secondary school pupil achieve a satis satisfactory performance on any statewide proficiency test. Um, security drills and students with disability would take various steps designed to ensure that schools provide

095students with disabilities the support and accommodations necessary to to address their unique needs during fire drills, security drills, and actual emergency situations. Um, and under the under the Senate, um, easing state aid cuts would offer additional state aid to school districts that would see a reduction in state aid in the governor's proposed fiscal year 2024 budget as the result of S2. The bill was considered by the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee earlier in the day. Um, in a rare mood, this legislation was sent immediately to the Senate floor on the same day and it unanimous unanimously passed through both committees and a full Senate. That's it. >> Thank you. You're welcome. >> Technology. >> No, there was no meeting. So, >> thank you. um township and board of ed joint committee meeting. We have a

096meeting scheduled for Monday uh municipal alliance uh WMA met on Monday, March 13th. There were discussions on getting more community members to join, bringing awareness of WMA to the community, fundraising and programs for the 2024 year. Next meeting will be on Monday, April 10th at 7 p.m. All meetings are hybrid. >> Thank you. And CPAC, >> I could leave it on. Uh so the next CPAC meeting, there's a parentonly meeting that's virtual that's scheduled for um April 4th at 8:00 p.m. And then the CPAC meeting um is here at Westbrook at 7:00 p.m. on I'm sorry, April 3rd is the parent only meeting. April 4th is the actual CPAC meeting. All right, moving on to old business. Do we have any old business? >> Go ahead. >> So, I think >> I think I'll just

097bring up and retouch on some of the things that we heard and I will say right, Alex and Barbara know that I called them because they are in an unenviable situation. It is a lose-lose position. I know that. Um, but first off, it it's interesting sitting next to uh Terry because as people came up to speak, I heard her say, "He's one of mine. She's one of mine. He's one of mine." And and I'm just thinking to myself about how Terry considers them hers. So, um I know you consider my son one of yours, too. So, I I thought that was funny as they came up to to talk. But um on a serious note, some of the key things I wrote down were one, I heard about the the the aspect of cutting teachers

098and the reality is we don't have the retirements that we've had retire a lot of retirements over the past years and and we're at that point where we don't have some of those. So there's there are some difficult decisions to be made, but there could be right some more discussion about what happens because I heard talk about school resource officers and boy like you know yesterday hits home when you think about school resource officers and what we do um in our own schools. The next thing that I heard the most was this idea of grant writing. So I I know I I think I heard Will say this probably five years ago or so. There's millions and millions of dollars out there and you know if even if we hired a grant writer to do

099some of these things we would probably make our money back you know five tfold. So is that something that you know where it could help us in the future? Uh the fourth and fifth things um have to do with first off the social workers. Um important again, right, with even with what we saw yesterday. Um social workers I think are more important than ever and that's a tough thing to think about when you're making hard decisions. And then um I mentioned this in our operations and finance committee meeting that idea of media specialists specifically for um the the great schools, the elementary schools and how important they are there and what they do and and I heard that from a lot of um people here about how important it is there. I don't know I

100didn't hear at least I don't think I heard anybody say how important it is in the high school and I didn't even hear anybody say how important it is in the middle school. Maybe it is, but I heard a lot of questions about, you know, the elementary school, right? It's probably important everywhere, but I heard a lot of elementary school um parents come and talk. So, um like we just need to think about that more. >> Will, you were next. >> No, I was. >> Okay. And Terry, it's you then. Um, I I think the high school is some some sometimes ignored as far as their needs. And one of the biggest needs at the high school is the media specialist. She is in charge of resources for every single research paper that's done in

101that high school. She edits. She revises for these kids. She meets with them. She meets with teachers and they um bring to her their units. She pulls the resources for them because they don't have the time to get to the library. They're they're they're busy. And um she works I know when I was there, I remember that she would come in early in the morning and stay sometimes till 5 6:00 at night because the kids needed help. She was there for their resource. She was there for their um sometimes even their mental health. I mean, she's an incredible person. Um she does a lot. She helps guidance. She pulls she pulls in materials for the guidance department. She pulls in materials for science, for language arts. I mean, she is a valuable asset. And when

102people say they don't know what the high school media specialist does, I I worked at the high school. I know what she did. I watched her. Um, and she was in an invaluable resource. So, to lose that position and or to make that a part-time position is an absolute crime. So, that's all I have to say. >> Thank you. >> Because we don't we didn't get a lot of talking about high school parents. old business. Any other >> um I wasn't at the last meeting. Um so um I'm kind of you know I so I missed the the you know the the announcement. I do I'm well aware of what the the cuts are so I don't want to sound like I don't know but I wasn't there when it was first introduced. Um, those

103of you who don't know me, I I'm back at working at Highlands Family Success Center as a case manager. So, I'm working with families uh throughout the entire county who have uh are dealing with either COVID related or not necessarily COVID related issues, helping them to keep their apartments, to keep their lights on, to keep their heat. um even to find and I was talking to one of our lovely staff members before even to find formula. Um and um it's a rewarding position. Um it is also a heartbreaking position. Um, with that in mind, the fact that we're even thinking of cutting a social worker mind blows me big time because what happens in the home, we really don't see, but the teachers see, the principles see, the staff in the building sees what's going

104on, and the social worker is such an important position. it. None of this was thought of back when I was in school. And I don't mean to pull out a rocking chair moment here. My husband and I were joking the other day when I was back in school. My husband and I graduated the same high school, different years, and there was a serious car accident during Christmas break. And we lost three of our classmates. They died. And when we went back to school, if we didn't know, teacher would say, "Oh, by the way, so and so is not here. He died during during the break." And that was it. And you had to deal with it on your own. And we we lamented that. And I had a classmate who ended up in a vegetative

105state for over 30 years before he passed. There was no social workers. You've dealt with it on your own. We've become wiser and smarter in that regard and we really need that and we need and I truly believe social workers are also there for the faculty and staff. It's a collaborative team effort because kids are dealing with things you and I never had to deal with as a child. Can't I I can't even fathom. I can't imagine. And I think that's so darn important. Also media specialist I think they they are equally as important in their tasks in helping out. They're definitely a lifeline for the faculty and staff and the students. Um I went to four different elementary schools. Sorry I didn't make it all six. Um to read to the kids and it

106was all this media specialist. They picked out these they knew me. They're like, "Okay, O'Brien's coming. We got to pick out the weirdest, wildest, craziest book." and those who were saw me in action knew that this book would be perfect for me. And that's just Debbie O'Brien and not everybody else, not the faculty, not the staff, and most importantly the students. So, um, I'll be honest, I'm going to fight for those positions. Um, I like to fight for every position, but those two right now are just so darn important. Thank you. [Applause] Well, right. >> I'd like to remind my colleagues that it is I I don't want to say disingenuous, but we really do need to think a little more critically down the road. If it's not this year, what happens next year? Do

107we then cut those positions because it's the right move? You know, we've been offered suggestions on this possibility of state aid that's going to funnel in to save jobs. So, we're going to do that and then down the road we're going to cut jobs anyway. You know, let's not traverse too far away from the path that the administration has laid out because the administration does have to think about what's happening on the ground. If it's not a group of people representing one teacher this meeting, it's going to be a group of people representing another personnel down the road. So, we're going to keep doing this and doing this and our heartstrings are supposed to be tugged at this point. This is probably the hardest juncture in not only the district's history, but our township's history.

108And we really really need to buckle down and trust that the decisions are being made wisely because if it's not now it will be later and to the point of make I made a point 5 years ago. There were many points that I made 5 years ago. One of which was thinking outside the box was outsourcing. I got publicly bered for things like that. One of those suggestions 5 years ago, six years ago was joining in the efforts of possibly closing a school. I was bered. My brother was humiliated at Shopright by people who thought that thinking outside the box was really, really not a good idea. So, here we are a juncture that we're going to meet again and again until we get it right. I say not I say this and it's going

109to sound heartless. We pull the band-aid now and we do what's right for the students. If we don't pull the band-aid, we're just prolonging the agony. >> So, so, um, I actually, you know, for Barbara, for for Billy sitting out there, I I know this is tough for you too because you grew up here, right? And this is this is what what you know. Um, so it is it's difficult for these folks and and I get what you're saying. Um, but that's also coming from the guy who said we should have a 0% increase. And Barbara said beforehand that we we're just kicking the can down the road. So, I get what you're saying, Will, but we're kick the can down the road. And and we do we have to make these tough decisions, but

110I think that, right, we can look at some things differently. And I know that talking to and you know talking to Barbara and Alex, they've been receptive uh in listening and and Billy's in there too, right? They've been receptive to listening. So, um but ultimately, you're right, the decisions do have to be made that are going to be tough for some people. Um, can I just I just want to um will I respect your opinion, but I have to tell you that when I took my oath as a board member, I understood that I had a fiduciary responsibility, but I also understood that I had a responsibility to my children or the children in the community and the parents and the staff. And I think when we look at these cuts, we have to really

111really think carefully about how they're going to affect the community because it will affect the community as a whole. It will affect their attitude toward the school district. And I think having said that, we have to put we have to look at these cuts a little bit closer. So yes, they have to be made, but the social worker is extremely important. the media specialists are extremely important. So, let's go back and let's just look at them, you know, and try to come to a compromise. Thank you. [Applause] >> Hey, >> any other comments? >> Yeah, the hard part on that is when I voted no to a specific thing, right? Because the hard part is does that increase class sizes, right? That's that's the balance. So, right, you know, like I get that. I understand

112that. So, it's a tough thing. >> We're in old business still. Yeah. >> Want to close? >> No, I I have something. >> Shoot. Just kidding. >> I just wanted to make sure I was in the right place. Um, I just wanted to um thank Mrs. Lockwood for going to the P County um dinner where one of our students was awarded. Um, I think it is extremely important as we sit here and talk about all the things that our staff does and all the things that we do as a community. Um, and that we support our students when they're given awards, when they're honored, that we're there for them, that we show up. Um, and I just want to thank you so much for showing up. Um, that's my only old business. Does anyone else

113have anything? >> Thank you. All right. Go ahead. Motion to close old business, please old business. Second. >> All in favor? >> Any opposed? New business. Anyone have new business? >> Move to close. >> So, Go ahead, Ryan. >> For me. >> Yeah, told you. So, I I guess I'm only putting this under new business because I I do think it you we need to be commended. Um, it could have gone under either. Um, the the Kill Gallon baseball field really does look uh fantastic. And I know I was a thorn in Barbara's side a little bit asking for it to be on the agenda each month. And I see by the I see by the look of Barbara, she's going, "Yes, you were." Um, but I do think that um Chris and his team

114did a really good job in working to uh make that a a really nice baseball field for West Milford and for these schools to come and say, "Hey, this is the Yeah, we're getting we're at the field that I remember it being all those years ago." So, thank you. Anyone else have any business? >> So, I just want to talk about the cuts in new business. I didn't talk about them in old. I feel like it's also new. Um, I'm uncomfortable with all of the cuts. Um, I love the idea of a town hall meeting where we come together like we did to, you know, we were in the Makipin cafeteria, people showed up from town council, parents came. Um, I wish more staff was there. We need the input from staff. uh administrators were

115there and we broke off into groups and we talked about our strategic planning and we talked about what we wanted to see in our district. We can do that about grant writing. We can do that about ideas and how to make our district better. You know, um there's so many things out there. So then, yeah, let's do it, you know, rather than another agenda item where we're paying people $36 an hour to write more grants or do whatever and then we're back to square A, you know, like I'm I'm all for that. So if a community member wants to plan that, if the administration wants to plan that, you know, I don't work here. I'm just a volunteer and I will show up and I will help you write grants. Um, so anyone that wants

116to do that, I think that's an awesome idea. Um, I also think that we can come together as a town hall meeting and continue find something to do to write letters to the governor's office um to get into the political, you know, realm of this is a problem. And I, you know, we've said it up here and no one has really taken the helm. And I have to tell you, the nine people up here, you heard me admit that I didn't get to read my whole packet, right? I read what I had to. I put my notes. I highlight. I didn't get through all of it. You know, I have hours. We all put hours in volunteer time. So, I'm asking you guys to help us. Let's all work together. Let's do this. No, I

117hate every single cut on the on this. I don't want to see any of them. You know, you've heard me say it a thousand times. It affects my community. It affects my family. It affects my child. It affects me. I'm not the only mom losing sleep at night. I know that. So, let's do this together. Um, there are some times where I do feel very alone and I'll tell you that these eight people right here, they answer my phone calls too every single time. And we're trying to put our heads together, but the reality is we don't get to make the ideas. We can't write this agenda. So, we have to vote on what's there, you know, and I think that's the hardest part about this job. I can have an opinion, but I don't

118get to write it. I only get to vote on it. Um, and I really hope that the community understands that because no one should be harassed at shop right here in the or up at the track. No one should be calling and yelling at us for the cuts that are present. They're not my ideas, you know. Um, we're going to share our our ideas. We are going to try to come to a compromise. Um, but as Will said, there's always going to be somebody unhappy, no matter what it is. This room will be filled with different people no matter what we cut. you know, I agree with a lot of the comments that were made. Some of these things might be huge mistakes. Well, we've done that before and we've brought them back and shifted

119things around, you know, um so we have to go back to the drawing board this week, you know, this month. Um and all every single thing will be discussed. Um the last thing I wanted to say is, you know, um I I know that there was there's a lot of staff here. I'm I'm the board president. I did ask for a lot of people to have rice notices. I did so that we can discuss all these things. Don't be scared. We support all of you. We want to keep every single one of you, but we can't, right? Like that's not and we don't want the state to come in and run our budget because our classrooms will be over 30. So yes, we have to discuss positions and what's happening. So be thankful that we're

120having discussions rather than just saying let the superintendent do whatever he wants. If you don't get those notices, that means we're not asking questions. You know, my phone's been off the hook with everybody's scared, everybody hates you, everybody thinks that, you know, because you sent out race notes, they're all panicked, they're all this, they're all that. Be thankful that we're having discussions and asking questions, please. You know, I don't want to make anyone else lose sleep at night or not feel good about what they're doing every day with our kids. All right, that's enough. Thank you so much for listening. And seriously, this is this is not easy. Um, can someone anyone else under new business go ahead? >> So, right, this doesn't just affect West Milford, it affects lots of these towns that are

121in the Highlands and you talk about town halls. It it yeah I again I don't know if this legally is right or not but be great if the nine board members also talked to the Vernon and the the the Jeffersons and all these other towns that are losing lots of money and having to cut more a lot more staff than even West Milford has to cut. And it'd be great if staff members in those towns got together. you know, that's the grassroots effort and and the the letters and the calls to the governor's office and and your state senator and your state congressman that could help because all these things are happening to some of these right specifically many districts. So, >> you know, somebody out there get a notepad, get an email, start, you

122know, like West Milford could host it. You know, we could start a campaign to show the unfairness or to write letters. Go ahead, Dub. So, piggy back on that. So, if we we are thinking along the same lines, Mr. Gino, as far as getting group of people together, um I think maybe the first place to start is ask our a superintendent or our um director of education since they are meeting with other districts and and yes, granted that certain uh uh people are in different counties, but you could start with at least Lakeland who's who got really slammed as well. um I don't know about what what happened with Ringwood and start that way and get both get get the get the posi together get the administrators get the board of ed people get the

123community members involved wasn't there a um >> whatever happened to that group SOS save our schools whatever happened to that >> is that the one with the superintendence that we went was no that was >> this is seems to be dissipated during the pandemic at some point it was before that pandemic that it got started when the hut started ramping up and it seemed to have dissipated. It's probably time to get the gang back together again, >> get the fans again. >> Uh, I want to make a point that I think that those efforts are happening. I mean, we voted on a motion tonight to have a cooperative team and, you know, every school district's I I believe in joining efforts to do things. if we want to join in efforts to do things, let's

124stop the legislature from ever meeting again cuz every time they meet there's an unfunded mandate >> that we pay for. Um along the lines of things that hopefully we could do is we as a board should probably take a look at the intricacies of the funding formula because every student gets a certain point, right? One normal One regular student without any outside uh special services needed gets one point. If that student needs special services, they get additional weighted points. If that student needs uh free lunch, that student gets additional points. We live in a Highlands district, probably the only township that lives almost 100% in a Highlands area. between that and urban enterprise zone or urban enterprise zones. You know, there should be weight for those types of zones that were designated by the legislature

125who's making us pay for things that they're mandating. They're great ideas that Mrs. O'Brien was reading. You know, where does that money come from? You know, where does it come from? So maybe in the future, in the near future, that's what we discuss is is taking that look at the the funding formula and try to get something for being in a Highland zone. >> That's another great letter is the all the unfunded mandates over the last 5 years or 10 years. You know, we could have the hips specialist, the, you know, all of these things that come that, you know, we don't get money for, but we have to provide, you know. >> All right. Any other new business? >> Move to close new business. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Any

126opposed? >> We're going to move to public comment. This portion of the meeting is open to members of the public having a legitimate interest in the actions of the I'm sorry, having a legitimate interest in the actions of the board for the purpose of addressing any subject matter pertinent to andor directly related to the operation of the West Milford Public School District. Members of the public who requested to speak prior to the meeting will be recognized by the chair first. Each speaker will be given 5 minutes for a period of 30 minutes and then time permitting other public comment limited to 5 minutes per speaker will be allowed until the 30-inut period transpires. All speakers are asked to sign the register provided and give their full name, spell their last name, group affiliation if appropriate,

127and provide their address. Issues raised by members of the public may or may not be responded to by the board. All comments will be considered and a response will be forthcoming if and when appropriate. The board asks that members of the public be courteous and respectful of the rights of other individuals when speaking. Specifically, comments regarding students and employees of the board are discouraged, and the board in the administration will not respond to them. Students and employees have specific legal rights afforded to them by the laws of New Jersey. The board is not responsible and is not liable for any comments made by members of the public. Members of the public should consider their comments in light of the legal rights of those affected or identified in their comments. Members of the public are reminded

128that they are legally responsible and liable for their comments. Is there anyone signed up? Mrs. Francisco, is there anyone that would like to speak? >> Oh, Monica first. >> Oh, sure. I didn't see you. >> Hi, Monica Church, 40 Beach Haven Road. Um, nobody brought it up tonight, but I just want to mention athletics, which was part of the preliminary budget. I don't know what the the plans are. Um, just want to stress the importance, especially for our high schoolers, giving them something to do after school. So, I don't know what the intention is. Someone had mentioned family ID um has been the same price for 10 years. I didn't know that. So, for those that don't know, if your child plays a sport in high school, there's one fee for the entire year. It's

129$75 whether they do winter, spring, whatever, it is one fee. So, I know most parents would agree they prefer to pay more so that the programs don't go away. But that being said, not everybody is as lucky as me or some of my friends that can afford that. So I don't agree with doubling it necessarily, especially in one year. Maybe, you know, rise it incrementally or change the payment structure. Maybe one fee per sport. If they don't do a winter sport, they don't pay. Um or maybe something in there that says, "Hey, want to donate, you know, to a child that can't afford this fee for the year." Um at the Makipin PTO meeting, we learned from Mrs. Reinhold that one of the local churches was collecting money to I think she's here to fund

130a Makain student going to Philadelphia and the same thing for DC. So some of us wrote checks right then and there because we're one of the lucky ones. We I can afford that stuff for my son and for my daughter. So maybe you do that in the sports but um I know parents we we'd be willing to do anything to prevent athletics from being cut. There's been a rumor about freshman sports. Most of the girls don't have freshman sports. It's just not enough girls unfortunately in the district that do sports. but on a lot of the boys do. Um, so that would really be devastating for them because that gives them structure. Again, they're not on their phones after school. Maybe they're getting yelled at by a coach, but they're moving and they're they're doing

131stuff. So, um, so maybe something in the family ID that a donation button. We'd be willing to do anything so that athletics don't be cut. I don't mean to downplay the other stuff, but athletics hasn't been mentioned. I want to make sure that there that would be, you know, really devastating if any of the programs were cut in the high school. And I know in Makipin, it's more after school. It's unfortunate we don't have middle school sports like um our counterparts in Warwick and stuff, but um so to try to keep what we have now would be really important. So, thank you [Applause] Monica. There was a first reading tonight on um participation fee program in that uh it does say that every April um it would be decided upon here at board meeting. Um

132but it is my understanding that the high school will go up a little um and that uh Makipin would be fair across the board as a one fee as per every student in every activity they've been in. Um we're paying so Makipin would be just like the high school. That was our goal. Um just FYI. Um Liz Liz Mcuade 32 Bisset Drive. Um, I just wanted to address the board because I heard items coming up about looking at the funding formula and I always think exploring ways to save the district or look at things again is a smart idea. But that being said, we've sat around this table and what I'm sharing is public and we've talked about legislation efforts and you guys reaching out and you as a board and prior boards have tried

133those efforts. You have attempted that we without prevailing, right? because we're still at the table again in the same way. So, I understand tonight is a difficult night and I too as a parent, as a community member, I don't want to see cuts. They don't want to see cuts. Nobody does, right? But I think as a board, as a board, you guys are going to have hard decisions to make. And I always think it's a good idea to go back and between the preliminary budget and your final talk about it. But I think to your point, you are going to then come back out with possib the possibility of it even being more difficult or not having that same benefit to students. So I just I know you guys are going to have a difficult

134job over the next few weeks. But I also just want the public to know that you have made efforts before and I don't know between now and your budget you're going to actually be able to change anything with the current situation you're in and which we know the future is going to hold. So that's it. Thank you. Is there another speaker? My name is Matthew Goff, 34 Center Street. Been here many times. Um I'm just concerned that the restructuring really didn't accomplish anything. Um, the goals were minimizing loss of staff, keeping class sizes low or average, and saving in transportation. And I don't see any of those being accomplished. Um, the numbers on the policy that we had to look up on our phones while we were sitting here, your minimum class size for K

135through 3 of 18 is pretty much around what you said our max was going to be. Um while we sat through six months of the restructuring meetings, um 30 for kindergarten through three and an aid if hitting 30 um basically for months at a time. My wife spent a lot of her personal time doing research on population and things like that. Um everything was basically hit a wall. Um, nobody wanted to hear anything about possible increases in the future with with the COVID housing boom and things like that. Um, I just don't see why we're setting these maximums so high when we were told the population is never going to go up. So, I just I don't I think it's unanimous that nobody wants to see a kindergarten class of 30 kids. Um, especially in

136West Milford. Um, I'll move to, you know, Hackinack if I want, you know, but, um, we were told that there's plenty of space in all the schools that the kids are being moved to out of Westbrook. Um, I guess we were including closets because there's definitely not enough room. If you hit 30 kids at Marshall Hill or Maple Road and you say, "Wow, 30 is too much. We got to find a classroom somewhere." Probably not going to have it. schools are not as big as you think they are, like the one we're standing in right now. Um, and we were told that, you know, the effects of the kids being moved away from school and and maybe they're in kindergarten or third grade, fourth grade, they've made friends, now they're going to be split from

137their friends and, you know, they'll they'll be back together in middle school. But, you know, the kids are resilient because of the help that they're getting at home and these staff that you're looking to get rid of, social workers and the media specialists. Like, we're talking about helping kids learning how to read and actually getting them to want to learn how to read. So, it's just it just it's frustrating. Um, and I know I'm just expressing what most people think. Um, and I know you know you guys are this is you guys are giving your own time to come up with these things and and all the time that you put in. I appreciate it. Um, I'm just frustrated that none of the goals of the restructuring that were given to us were really accomplished

138and I don't know if they're going to be accomplished. And I'm really glad that at least a few of you shot down the first reading of agenda item two of class size. And I'm a little surprised that and disappointed that so many people actually let it go past the first reading and that these numbers are actually like okay to some people. Um I hope they're not. I hope that when you go back to the drawing board, you know, something looks a little better. Um I know class size at this point unfortunately is peanuts compared to getting rid of people people losing their jobs, but you know, it's all it's all intertwined. the effects of the kids when they lose maybe a staff member that you know maybe that one staff member is that person that

139makes them say okay no I'll go to school today I'm going to go to school today and then they're gone and it all it's all intertwined and you know I'm just I'm just uh I'm just frustrated that it's affecting people's jobs and full circle to affect the kids um thank you >> thank Thank you. >> Do we have another speaker? >> I know I was up here before. My name is Teresa Lindol. I live at 41 Somerville Road. With the most respect, what are you thinking? What are you thinking? Teachers are retiring. Teachers are leaving. Teachers aren't coming here. teachers aren't like, "Oh, West Milford's the place I want to be." Class sizes. Like, one thing that I liked about living here was class sizes are small. Class sizes were really small. And I was

140like, "Okay, great." Now, my third grader when she came in kindergarten, I don't know, there was over 20 kids. And I'm like, there was one thing that I liked about this school is that the class sizes are small. Now, she's in third grade and the class sizes are huge. Now, my son's in first grade. If Have you been in Miss Marian's class? She's got like 20some kids. There's There's no room. Now you're going to put 30 kids in a kindergarten class and and maybe an eight. Really? Really? Ask those 30 kids are going to be f first graders. Then they're going to be second graders. What are you thinking? Ask one of these third grade teachers because those 30 kids are going to be in a fifth grade class. Is is an aid going to

141help you? Is a aid gonna help any of these? Now, no disrespect because I know your aids are awesome, but any of these fifth grade teachers, and it ain't going to help you with 30 children. How big are your classrooms? That you're going to fit 30 students. Now, you need 30 desks. So, you have 30 students and 30 desks. >> If you could just address the >> Sorry. Sorry. Sorry. But you have no room. What are you thinking? What are you thinking? People aren't moving here. And when you see the schools and then they see your class sizes and then you see 28 kids and then oh maybe maybe you'll get an eight at 30. That means are your class sizes going to get bigger. Come on. Come on. I know you're trying to do

142your best. But we can do better. And we could do better for our students. And the idea that maybe the class sizes, the highest they're going to go is 30 with an eight. Are you really going to give them an aid? We have budget cuts now. Are you going to give these teachers an aid? Come on, you can do better. What are you thinking? [Applause] Do we have another speaker? Dr. Marissa Goff again, 34 Center Street. Um, I'm I just have a couple follow-up questions. I know from what Debbie O'Brien said that this larger class sizes is isn't something that's going to happen right now. I read all the powerpoints. I read everything from restructuring. I know the average class sizes that they're proposing for the next few years. If I remember correctly, they said

143for my daughter's class next year, it'll be 19 kids, which I don't see how that's feasible considering her current class is 22. But I'm I'm trusting those numbers. I do understand that. I know that down the road because of the schools that remained open or smaller, that if there is a slight fluctuation, if there are more children coming in, that we have lost that wiggle room and that yes, we will need to have larger class sizes. I do see that as a terrible idea. I'm obviously stating the obvious. And going off of what you said, Debbie O'Brien, is things exist now that didn't exist years ago. Things like something happened yesterday in Nashville, mass shootings, security, these things have to be taken into account before you put more kids in a classroom with just one

144teacher. And I know, like she said, we're not going to be hiring any more aids. We're not hiring anybody. But we have to keep that in mind that there's things that exist that did not exist all these years ago. all these behavioral issues, autism now I think is what one in 36. It used to be one in 50. All of these things that really didn't exist and now they do. This is going to become more and more of a problem if you put these kids in bigger class sizes. My daughter's only five, my son is three. My daughter has anxieties. She's able to work through them. We work through them together. But if you put her in a bigger class, she might be gened now, but maybe she'll need special services and you would have

145done that to her. I can't guarantee that. But I need you to consider that for the general education population because I really feel like they're getting left behind here. Is that for that person that gets that one point, I feel like you're almost giving them a ding because they're normal. That's not fair. And the other thing that I have to bring up is looking at the two new positions that you brought into it, and I really hope this doesn't put a red mark on my head, is when you're coming in to hire somebody, please consider the the amount of the raise that you're giving them. You know, the two positions had a 20k raise. Maybe together you could have saved one of the media specialist positions had you not offered such a large raise. And

146I know why you have to offer those raises because you want these people to come to our district. We were trying to save our district. But keep that in mind. These large raises have now lost another position in our school. And maybe it's that one teacher that all those children love. And with that said, I've I said to one of the um members in the back there, one of the residents that when I was in middle school, I hated school. I had that one teacher in 8th grade that completely changed my mindset of school. Made me want to try, made me become a doctor. Had I not had that teacher, that teacher left because of cuts, because of fear of losing her job, I would not be standing here at this podium addressing myself as

147a doctor. I just have to let that be known. So, please consider that moving forward. I know it's done. I know it's voted on, but before you hire people in, consider the people that you have and the people that you need to save. Thank you. Do we have another speaker >> move to close public comment? Second. >> All in favor? >> Any opposed? Um, Mrs. Lockwood, you could uh read for executive session, please. >> Sure. At 9:25, I make a motion to go into executive session for the purpose of discussing personnel matters, resignations, HIPS, and matters of attorney client privilege. The executive session minutes will not be released until such time as the privilege of confidentiality is no longer applicable. The board will be in executive session for approximately 70 minutes. Uh, we will be

148coming back to take action. >> Excuse me, class. I'm just kidding. ready. >> So at 10:38, I make a motion to go back into exe executive session for the purpose of discussing personnel and matters of attorney client 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 approximately 30 minutes. Action will be taken when we return. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> Any opposed? >> Welcome back. Um, roll call. Miss Francisco. >> Mr. Sidwoods >> here. >> Mrs. Rico >> here. >> Mrs. Stwyer >> here. >> Mrs. O'Brien >> here. >> Mr. Greeno >> here. >> Mrs. Lockwood >> here. >> Mr. Lippy >> here. >> Mrs. Romeo >> here. >> Um, Mrs. Lockwood under

149education. >> I make a motion to approve the following agenda item under education. Uh the recommendation of the superintendent to approve the following HIPS um 2023/M9 as substantiated 2023/M10 as substantiated. >> Second. >> Any questions or comments? >> Seeing as none. Roll call, please. >> Mrs. Lockwood. Yes. Mr. Mr. Sidowitz. >> Yes. >> Mr. Gino. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Dwire. >> Yes. >> Mrs. O'Brien. >> Yes. >> Mr. Lippy. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Rico. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Romeo. >> Yes. >> Personal student affairs. >> I'm going to ask um Mrs. Lwood to move the next items under personnel student affairs. That wrong. >> Student affairs. >> Personnel and student affairs. Sorry. So that's my bedtime. Right. >> I make a motion to approve the following. Be it resolved that board of educa that the

150board of education as determined to deny grievances filed by the West Milford bus drivers association docketed as 20231 and 2023 02. >> Second. >> Any questions or comments? Roll call. Miss Francisco. >> Mr. Sidowitz. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Dwer. >> Yes. >> Mr. Gino. >> Yes. >> Mr. Lippy. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Lockwood. >> Yes. >> Mrs. O'Brien. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Rico. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Romeo. >> Yes. >> I also make a motion to approve the following. Be it resolved that the board of education terminates employee. The number is identified in the minutes of the meeting effective 3312023. >> Second. >> Any questions or comments? >> Roll call. Miss Francisco. >> Mr. Sidowitz. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Dwyer. >> Yes. >> Mr. Gino. >> Yes. >> Mr. Lippy? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Lockwood?

151>> Yes. >> Mrs. O'Brien? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Rico? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Romeo? >> Yes. >> Motion to adjurnn. no. >> Oh, >> one more donation. >> The donation. >> Thank you, Claire. We need discuss. >> Sorry, take that back. >> Um, I was I was wondering if we could move our committee meeting to April 17th. I have a personal matter on the 18th and I would like to be at the committee meeting. >> Everybody grab your phones. We could entertain it, but only if everyone finishes their school ethics forms. Just saying. >> Oh, I have to do that. However, I have to come in and do that because I can't It keeps me almost forgot. Did you get it? >> Could you just do it because last time I checked? >> Could you

152uh could you like spell out the guilty parties? >> You can send it to me. >> We have to committee meeting. So Tara can't make the 17th. >> I'm okay on the 17th. But we already >> 19th. >> So make the 19th. >> 20th. >> No. >> 21st. >> Oh, 19th. Yeah, I'll do it. >> 21st is the Friday. >> Oh, 21st. No way. 17 the following week prior can't be the week prior. >> Well, yeah. >> The only other question I have >> is if you're going to move the board meeting from the 25th of April, then you could have committee meetings 24th. Of course, based on people that are not going to be able to attend, but >> I can do the 24th, too. That's up to the board though. I'm just suggestion

153though, >> but that's only if we move in the board meeting. >> Well, you don't want to have committees on Monday and a board meeting on Tuesday. >> Yeah, I would prefer not that. >> That doesn't make sense. >> What do you all do next week? >> Why don't we have committees next week? >> Oh, I could do that. >> I can't, but that's okay. I think >> um I can't. There's a CPAC meeting on the 4th. >> Yeah. >> What about the high school? That's the national hall >> band room. >> Oh. Oh, I have a meeting about um >> like why is that? Why do they say >> I mean I I think I'm the only one that can't make the 17th and that's fine. I haven't missed the committee. It's okay. Like

154you can't make the 17th you said, right? >> I can't make you could make >> I would be it would be close on the to get there. >> 17th would be good. >> I feel like 17th is fine. >> I feel like that's fair. That's hard. Would give that up. She has I've gone to every committee meeting like [Music] for every one of us. >> Are we keeping the board meeting at the 25th? So that's the next thing. >> I can't. >> So we have two people that can't be here that night. Thank you. >> Will and and Peter >> and I think we talked about the following. >> We talked about May second, but I thought that Terry and Ray couldn't be there on May 2nd. >> What was May 2? >> It's Tuesday.

155>> No, I can be there May 2nd. I can be. I thought you said you couldn't. No, I didn't. >> But you got the day wrong. You said you couldn't and then whatever you have to do is not a second. >> Yeah. I thought I changed some cost or something. >> Yeah. Does that affect payroll? Does that affect contracts that we may think? >> Well, that didn't happen just a few months ago. So we going to do >> it in paid navian and it affected our students negatively. So we need to discuss these things and I cannot be like um dismissed on a very important question because contracts are not always paid at the end of the month if we move our meetings. So um and they have very serious repercussions sometimes for our kids.

156So I don't like moving an April meeting into May 27. I could do >> I'm free after the 21st. >> That's the national honesty induction that lack of >> again right >> is the 27th >> once we get that >> once we get it >> so we have a meeting without two people or >> on the 25th. Why can't we do the 25th without two people? You still have a floor >> because you're warm. >> Oh, >> right. But January the 18th like my Saturday. >> 27th Thursday. >> That's national honor society. What about the 26th? >> So there you have to be an honor society then. >> Mhm. >> Um we were all invited >> to that and I'm assuming some administrators might be there. >> Which but that's my point. Can the meeting

157can be held at any time >> after it? It's at 7. I mean I I'm only put it in because we were invited. I don't have to be there. And I was going that we do some before, some after. Well, this is for the meeting though, not for the committee, right? >> This for the meeting. >> Are we doing the committee on the 17th? >> I think so. Yes, that's >> ter. >> Right. I mean, >> thanks. >> Okay. So, we're doing the committee the April committees on April 17th. Right. >> Right. Okay. So, now you have a board meeting April 25th that has a scheduled public hearing of the budget and two board members can come. >> What What about the 24th? >> The only other thing that you can do is schedule another

158meeting for the public hearing on the budget, but >> there would be an extra meeting then, right? >> What about the 24th? No, >> but still he won't be down >> and you won't be there. Okay. On the 24th. >> But the 27th work we could up against. >> Okay. >> I don't know how long those last an hour and a half, but I'm going to start 8:30. >> No, that's >> I just I have to start games. I just have to make sure I I could have started by 8:00. Oh, this are you talking about? I'm talking about completely different possible idea and we need to check with you and then first everybody can make a meeting on the 17th. >> So if we can do the budget meeting on the 17th and move

159to one of the two weeks above that >> everybody can make it by the 17 is definitely not enough time to discuss what you all need to discuss if that's the case. I'd rather take the hit than you missed the opportunity to set what you need to discuss. >> So leaving it on the budget can't be any earlier. >> Thank you. Okay. >> Than the last >> than the 24th, right? >> Sorry, I didn't know that. >> It can't be earlier and it needs to be advertised >> in the newspaper the week prior to the meeting. So my suggestion would be if you move it into May, what is what is the deadline card for the budget? The deadline the last day that it could be basically approved is like May 8th. Okay. Or has

160and then it has to be resubmitted. I would say May 8th is kind of your like outside date. You could still you could discuss it after that point in time, but you can't have another meeting to approve it. >> So the last meeting date has to be May 8th. >> So what about May 3rd or the 4th? >> Now we're running to a date by end of the month bills and budget contracts. Yeah, the bills have to be paid by April 30th, right? >> I'd hate to suggest running the April meeting as regular business to approve the things and then the subsequent meeting in May is strictly the budget. >> Mhm. >> You know, that way bills can get paid, everybody can do what they need to do in short, >> right? And then on

161top of it, if you the two of you are not there, that's not a real big, you know, issue at hand. >> I like that idea, too. >> Keeping the 25th, >> keep 25th as the April regular meeting and then have a separate in May for the public hearing. >> And then, you know, personnel, maybe any hips that show up, we can that could be all taken care of at that time. And and maybe Yeah, I like that. I Yeah. So dude on the secondh day. Okay. >> Ray can't be here on the second. >> Can't be here on the second. >> No, I can't. I had the day to get >> Oh, right. >> No, Ray, you can't be here on the second. >> I can't be here on the second. >> Third or

162fourth? On the second May first. Monday, May 1st. >> I'll be here on the first. >> May 1st is my son's birthday. I can't be here on first. It's my son's birthday. >> Tell you how many birthdays. My kids didn't see that. >> Well, listen, I know. I mean, if everybody else can, then it'll be deal. Okay. >> It's going to be 13. >> It's a big one. >> I mean, so it's clear that not everybody is going to be able to be at the budget meeting. >> Keep it in April. Fail it. Really? >> I mean, you could do the second. >> I'm not here. I'm not here. >> I'm good with the second. >> So, I'm putting this in pen in my little calendar. >> Huh? That wouldn't be put anything in pad.

163Just just remind me of a concert on that night and it was the seven budget on May the 2nd. >> Okay. Budget. Is that what you're saying? >> Yeah. Is that what we're doing? >> So, the committees are on the 17th. We're keeping the 25th and we're also adding the second. >> Okay. What time are we doing the budget? >> 7:00. >> Oh, 7:00. Yeah. Can you fix the time? And what time are we doing the April 25th meeting? >> Same time, 7:00. >> Okay. Well, I don't know. >> Okay. Got it. >> Okay. >> I'll send something out tomorrow to confirm everything. >> Okay. Great. I was >> democracy. >> It works. >> Can I get a motion to adjourn, please? >> Motion to second. >> All in favor? >> Thanks everybody. Good night.

164Good night.