Board of Education Meeting 4/26/22

001I'd like to call the meeting to order. And if we could have a moment of of silence, uh please remember those that are um in the Ukraine tonight. Please rise for flag salute. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. In accordance with the provisions of the Open Public 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 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

002hall, township, library, and all district schools. Roll call. Mrs. Francisco, >> Mrs. Romeo, >> here. >> Mrs. Stevenson, >> here. >> Mr. Conklin, >> here. >> Mrs. Dwire, >> here. >> Mr. Greeno, >> he's going to be a little late. >> Mrs. O'Brien, >> here. >> Mrs. Lockwood >> here. >> Mr. Stillman >> here. >> Mrs. Van Djk >> here. Dr. Anamone, your presentation. >> Yes, we can uh anybody up here, we can probably move over. We can start our uh presentation on the public hearing. I'll pull down the screen. That's pretty dark. Can you brighten it? Oh, there we go. >> It's heating up. >> Good evening everybody. Welcome to our public hearing. Uh, Alex, >> the final step. >> Do you stand closer to the microphone, please? >> So, this is the final

003step of our budget process for 2022 23 started way back in the fall as we did a lot of budget prep. Special thanks to our board of education, our volunteer board of education for all their time, energy, commitment, and dedication to our students, to our staff, to our school district, to the whole community. So this budget has not changed since the preliminary budget which would have been one month ago almost to the day. Um it's a conservative budget. It it had to be. We lost a lot of money in state aid. So the budget year-over-year went down by just by onetenth of 1%. Um so essentially flat year-over-year. Um as you know what inflation is year-over-year. Um that's a tremendous accomplishment. just keeping it flat in an era when inflation is, I don't know, 8%

004now maybe. Um, and our goal every year is to always put more money into the classroom and less money into overhead costs. So, for example, the state assigns a administrative cost limit for each region of the state, north, central, and south. It's a little different just to account for a cost of living and whatnot. So, it's about just under $2,500 per pupil of administrative costs. West Miler is one of, if not the lowest in the region. We're at 2150 per pupil. So if we calculate that times about 3,000 pupils, that's essentially $1 million extra that's not into administrative costs, but is instead spent in the classroom. So it's a student centered budget. This is year five. We talked about the funding formula changes a couple years ago. Uh we call it S2. That's that's our

005that's our phrase. This is year five of the seven-year phase. So, we still have a couple more years to go. These cuts get a little bit more difficult every single year. We do have just because we are cutting our budget. Just because we are losing state aid does not mean we are losing our focus on education. That's ultimately what we're here for. So, we do have some curriculum highlights. I know Mr. Novak touched on these in March, but he can give us a refresher course for just a sec. Yeah, I'll do a brief review of the the things we discussed. Um, so one of the uh one of the big initiatives that we've been working on is a large increase in our dual enrollment offerings. Just a reminder, uh dual enrollment course is a course

006that's offered at our high school and students have the opportunity to also receive college credit for those course for those uh courses. uh students can you know that helps them financially if they can go to their um you know college already you know having nine six 12 college credits under their belt. So we are in uh the process of of sharply increasing that uh next year's course offerings are in our um program of studies already released and I believe that student enrollment will dictate which of those courses are running for next year but we have high hopes for for that. In addition to that, there's been um a counselor in our um in our counseling office at the high school who's been assigned the task of tracking and making sure that students are aware of

007dual enrollment programs that they are um you know contacted and and counseledled in regard to the course you're taking and whether or not it's a dual enrollment course. So, it's a it's a great opportunity for for West M students. uh one of the bigger um curriculum highlights for next year, which not necessarily coming out of uh local school budget. It's um our our conquer math training for it says K5, but that's actually um for K through uh K through 8 and then also for our high school um algebra 1 and and geometry teachers. again the conquer math training. It's with um a presenter in puquonic named Nancy Schultz. She's well renowned in northern New Jersey and maybe the state uh for the work she does in best practice mathematics in terms of teaching our teachers

008how to best use hands-on structures in the classroom. So you may see especially the class the the grades who've been trained this year third and fourth grade in MAC and algebra you see a lot more hands-on manipulatives. you see a lot more um trying to turn these difficult concrete uh concepts into a tangible hands-on activity to to connect to um you know what the students can do. So we are uh greatly increasing our training for next year. um within the next two years we will have trained um a large majority of our teachers in mathematics across the district on that. So some of that is coming from local school budget and the majority of it will be coming from our ESSER our ESSER grants which are co relief funds. Uh the next the next few

009items um are in uh review of some of our curriculum. So, in uh on the May agenda, you're going to see uh approvals for our staff members who are going to be working over the summer to uh realign and revise and rewrite many of the curriculums that we are are currently working on. uh when you get approved for turning a course into dual enrollment, there's some, you know, we we create a proposal for the college to accept our classes of dual enrollment, but then we have to do the work for revising the curriculum and make sure it matches with with the uh university who's offering those credits once. So, that that takes some time. Uh we have our supervisors, administration, and staff working over the summer to uh to put those those things in place.

010Uh there's a number of uh state revisions in uh standards uh health and physical education, music and art, uh social studies standards. There's number of uh state projects that we have to adjust for. So those those are all things that'll be on the um agenda in in May. And we are also in the last phase on the previous slide. You don't have to go back. Uh we are in the last phase of implementing the um knowing science program in our elementary schools. So our budget basic have two hands of our budget. They have to balance revenues expenses money coming in expenses is money is money going out. Our revenues are declining is the problem where as our expenses are rising. So which is why we're cutting every year. So, our local tax levy is capped

011by the state at 2% every year. Our state aid is declined dramatically. We alluded to that a few slides earlier, just under $2.1 million in state aid cut this year alone. And our federal aid is also declining. We did have some grant money during COVID that helped plug some holes in our budget and that money is going away as well. So, we have spent that. That money's been used to hire extra encore teachers, run some clubs, but that money is drying up. The co grants are essentially being spent then moved out of our budget moving forward and our expenses are all going up. Our salaries, health benefits had a tremendous increase this year. The cost of everything, utilities, gasoline, paper, pencils, you name it. for our state aid reductions. This is five years of S2

012and I did this cumulatively. So it's just under 8 million total in cuts. As you can see here, there's still two years to go. So by this time next year, the Y-axis will probably have to be resized and then again in the following year. So I'm going to estimate about $10 million cut over the course of these seven years. Right now, it certainly feels that way. And that's only out of a $75 million budget. So, it's not cutting 10 million out of a $400 million budget. It's a lot. State aid as a percentage of our budget. The state used to fund over a quarter of our school system. And I'm estimating down here, it's just above 5%. In two years, this year has finally dipped underneath 10%. As you can see, it's still going down

013for two more years. So, the state is paying less, which means local taxpayers pay more. In addition to the cut that we have to make every year for our local tax livery, but the cap is on the local taxes, not the overall budget. Well, it's not 2% of a 100%, it's 2% of 80%. Which is not 2%, but it's really 1.6%. So, our revenues only go up about $1.1 million every year via tax level, which is about half of what was cut on the state aid side. Um, as you can see, this board and previous boards have done a tremendous job leveling taxes in this community. It's averaged about 1.58 over the last 11 years, which is tremendous. I don't know of a district that has a lower average over the last 11 years. So

014kudos to this board. Kudos to your predecessors for keep for doing this to help local taxpayers and local homeowners. So the budget itself, like I said, no change from a month ago. Tax levy is up 2% but the overall budget is down about $70,000 or a tenth of 1%. Okay. Our revenues, again, no change since last month. U you see a state aid reduction here. That's the big difference. Overall, fund balance went up, but we believe this is going to be going down dramatically for next year. And the overall is just under one/10enth of 1%. And our expenses, as you can see, cuts all over the board. For the tax levy impact, this is based on the medium median assessed home of $242,000. If your home is assessed higher amount, you'll pay more in taxes.

015If it's assessed at a lower amount, you'll pay less. I mean, this isn't the sale value, of course. This is the assessed value. So taxes for school taxes, they're going up $98.34 per year. Divided out by 12 months, it's just over $8 a month. Again, no change since last month. The capital projects that we included in this budget that have remained a new telephone system, some continued aesus abatement. I don't think this will be done for another 20 years. We just do a little bit every summer. It looks like some science equipment replacement at Makipin. Water remediation again at Makipin. And we have in this budget the McCormick field parking lot, the current gravel lot adjacent to Makipin paving that as well. So proposed cuts again no changes since March um spread out across the

016different school levels and different schools. Um if you were to take a a holistic look at this over the last five years it looks as if this is more elementary or high school but previous years have been more mad. So over the course of the five years it does balance out between different groups administration middle school high school elementary support staff etc. Um so in any given year it might be more here or there but over the course of these last five years and next two years it balances out across the district. So this is the important part. What does the future look like? Uh we have two more years of declining state aid. Beyond that we have no idea. Um federal grant money uh declining or diminishing expenses continuing to go up. uh pressure

017on local taxes. We have a limited ability to fund capital reserve which is how we do our larger projects, maintenance reserve, etc. So I believe we have to investigate opportunities to restructure the district. Whether we do or not, we don't know, but we should at least examine this possibility. So, if we create a I'm recommending we create a restructuring committee which essentially will examine the study one key question. Does the district have the financial resources to operate eight schools plus Highlander Academy where we're currently renting space at Our Lady Queen of Peace? If we can afford it, then we certainly don't have to change anything. If we cannot afford it, how can we restructure most efficiently our school system? So, I'm going to recommend we create a committee with board of education representation, administration, teachers,

018staff, parents, community members, whoever is interested. I can share this information with the community tomorrow. Um, but I think we should start this spring and hopefully have an answer to the to the board to the community by December of this school year or this calendar year rather. All right. So step one of the restructuring committee, I think we should organize or order a demographic study. There is a agenda motion tonight from Ross Haver Associates. We do have some older ones, but this will give us more current data. And if you just look at our district as a whole, our kindergarten classes, meaning districtwide, have averaged about 200 students for each of the last five years. I know many people in this room were students at West Milford. They graduated with 400 students when they were

019at the high school. So, as our students move through the system, when we graduate large classes in 12th grade and we take in a smaller group at the kindergarten level, we wind up losing enrollment every year. So, as you have 200 students in the district across 13 grades, we're looking at about 2500 students, which accounts for students who uh attend private high schools, state tech, etc. At its peak, I believe we were right around 5,000. So, we've been cut in half approximately, or at least we will be in a few years. Our long-term enrollment projections at the K to 5 level, it's 200 students per grade times six grades, that's 1,200. Makipin should be should settle in around 700 uh 600. And the high school is going to be around 700 students. Again, this is

020within a couple of years, not tomorrow, but within a few years. So, um, I believe it's time to look at this question and go into this discussion with eyes wide open and see what we can do or can't do. Anybody in the board have any questions? Maybe we should um turn off the slides and then we can go around questions. >> Alice, will you send us a copy of the um slide presentation? >> Yes. >> Thank you. Oh, he said >> it's on your desk. >> Sorry, I didn't see you. >> I didn't look. >> Oh, okay. Thank you. >> It's here. Thank you. So, I think we'll we'll go around and see who has a question and then we can it's probably easier now in this format. Uh, anyone have any question on the

021budget? Courtney, you're first. >> I have a couple questions. Um I'm and I think we said this at the preliminary budget uh meeting too. I'm concerned about teachers be being cut um and class sizes being too big at the elementary level. I've said that before. Um I'm concerned about cuts being proposed to athletics. I think that the athletics in this town drive and keep high school students here in West Milford. So, that's a concern and it's kind of just said it's not like specific what we're cutting in athletics. So, I'm curious about that. Um, you gave a projection, Alex, of the demographics and like what I guess you think it will be, but we're also on the agenda doing a demographic study. So, is that the utilization study of us utilizing our buildings? Because it

022seems like you kind of did a demographic study, but then we're paying for >> I definitely did not do a demographic. Let me let me go back to the athletics question first and I'll come back to this. Um, so we we do our athletics, you know, we have budgeted for a certain number of teams, levels, freshman, JV, varsity. Sometimes we plan to have three teams, but we don't have enough student athletes to fill out three rosters. So, we'll cut the freshman team and have a JV varsity. So, >> we're anticipating some cuts to some teams if we don't have the numbers. So, we know how many students are playing a sport in eighth grade just by who we see at the wreck or or the travel team or whatever. So, we're anticipating, you know, 20

023years ago there was, you know, 100 baseball players in eighth grade and now there's 10 or whatever. So there's certain sports that are in going going up and certain sports where participation may be going down and as you lose enrollment overall, you know, when you have 700 in the high school, it's hard to fill out the same number of teams you did when you had 1,600, >> but it's just fewer students really to play sports. So there could be some cuts in that area. But no, we did not do the demographic study yet. Is it It's on approval here. I just did a rough estimate. I mean, we've had about 200 kindergarteners for the last five years. We're probably going to be around 200 this coming September. So, doesn't mean it can continue forever, but

024it's a pretty good it's stabilized. >> It went down from 400 all the way to 200, then it's stabilized. >> It may go up again, in which case that's what that's why we have the more exact projections coming from the demographer. >> Do you think that that's needed over a utilization study? because I think >> that's more I think the demographic is more important. We pretty much have a good idea about the utilization um of the buildings but um I think that the the starting point has to be the demographic study. And just uh one additional comment about the athletic program. Um we've added a number of sports um which basically your athletes are now competing u with the baseball program because we've added volleyball in the spring for for for um boys and we've

025also added lacrosse. So you have competition. your traditional sport of of softball now has competition for the enrollments because other students are using are enrolling for other sports. So, um just the fact that we don't have, you know, enough to field a a freshman team in some sports is not necessarily a bad thing because other students have opportunities that they might not have had if we didn't add those sports. I still think and I think that the board um made it pretty clear the last time we had this discussion that we do want a utilization study um of the buildings. I think that that's something that we talked about before, correct me if I'm wrong. Um I think that you kind of did a demographic study and I think any school district that you look

026at that's had a demographic study is very similar across New Jersey. So I just would like to ask again that we include a utilization study um on the agenda as well. >> I think that it was discussed with the operations and finance committee and they wanted to they weren't going to move it forward at this point. They wanted they wanted excuse me in our discussion we discussed that we want the the um demographic study first to see what the live births are and to see exactly what they're projecting out because the utilization study is something that can come afterwards after you get that study back. So we wanted to see what we got from that before. >> How quickly can that be done? >> It's fairly quickly from what I understand. Right? Demographic study probably

027>> demographic study will probably be completed within about six weeks. You know, four to six weeks. >> I'll write it on my calendar. H I'll write it on my calendar. I'll be asking again. >> Yeah. No. Um Mr. As soon as we get it, we'll share >> with I mean he was pretty quick with the last the last time when he did it in 2019. I think he only took about four four or five weeks. So, it should be a really quick turnaround because um it was a 10-year period from the last time we did it in 2019 and this year it's this time it's only three years. >> Other questions on the budget? >> No one has any other questions on the budget? >> I do. >> Um the proposed cuts Seven teachers, there's

028six and a half um are proposed cuts because of the budget, right? These teachers are being cut because of this budget. >> Positions are being cut. >> It also has to do with enrollment. And so are all of those positions non-tenured. Um well summer retirement. We do have retirements in ELA. So we're just going to not rehire somebody. That'll be by attrition. Cafeteria. I don't believe they get tenure. So that's >> and the secretary was a retirement or a move. So that's not someone losing. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Um >> this rest I believe were non tenured. Pretty sure. >> Okay. And so these are considered a reduction in force due to proposed cuts. >> Well, if there's no and I'm I probably shouldn't be speaking, but if >> No, I wasn't asking I was

029asking admin. >> Okay. I I just want to say that if there isn't enough students to warrant a section, you're not going to have it >> and it's a reduction in force to the position. >> That's my question. >> So, we're cutting certain positions or not renewing some staff members. >> So, it is not a reduction in force. It is non-renewal of staff members. >> Well, there's two separate I think you're talking about two separate things. I'm talking about what's right in front of me that's listed as proposed cuts due to what was in a budget. >> Cuts for the budget. >> Public hearing on the budget. >> Correct. >> Proposed cuts. Teachers positions. >> Positions. Non-renewal of staff. you're saying. >> So there are certain positions being cut. So one first grade teacher at

030Mar one teaching position at Marshall Hill is being cut. One teaching position at Westbrook grade two is being cut. These are positions that we're not going to have next year. Separate from that, we're also not renewing some staff members and moving some people around to fill or back fill. So there are some transfers from building to building on the agenda for approval. There are some people moving grades or assignments within a building. Okay. So I suppose the answer to my question of is this a reduction in force? The answer is no. But no one's saying that, right? A reduction in force. A riff. >> Did you send any riff letters out? >> No. >> Thank you. >> Any other questions on the budget? If not, we will move on. She's not here tonight. >> Oh,

031right. Yes. >> Right. We're not. Unfortunately, it was scheduled on the night of our board meeting. Um, director of education. >> So, I'm glad you brought that up, Terry. I was I was going to congratulate those students. Uh we are in that season uh where our tonight our national honor society students are being recognized. Uh tomorrow night the uh students at Makipin will receive that honor. Uh there are also a variety of um honor societies for each department who have been receiving recognition. Uh so I just want to say congratulations to those students and families. you know, when we were up at uh you know, a lot of things going on. Senior night for lacrosse, you see people who are going from one event to the other to to see their uh to see their

032kids in the spotlight. So, uh it's really um for me it's it's one of those nice moments of you know we talk about return to normaly. It's it was really a kind of good feel sort of day to see all of this uh good stuff going on honoring our our students, our seniors or kids who are going to be moving on to the next level. um with the honor societies in place now and and the return to in-person events, it's it's really great to um be honoring what we're here for and that you know, commitment to academic excellence and um you know, I don't know if I've appreciated these events like I like I uh have this year in the past just because we hadn't seen them in person. So, uh you know, again, I

033just want to say I don't know if that's something that Abby would have said, but um I just want to say congratulations to all the students and families. Um Also in in that vein, uh our juniors had the opportunity to visit the uh Northern New Jersey National College Fair, which is a major uh major event. Uh they held at the uh hold at the Melands. I forget the number. It's in the hundreds of universities that are there uh for students to um visit and and participate. So our guidance department uh led a um student trip uh during the day and in the evening. on um I believe it was April 20th uh and they went down. We had uh three buses worth of uh worth of students to go down during the school day. Uh

034so it was a tremendous uh tremendous event. Well attended. Uh one of our own counselors is um uh Mrs. Lambert is um you know uh on the executive board of that uh organization. uh the NJ uh the NJ AAACK I think they they call it. Um so she does a great job with making sure our making sure that our students in our um in our high school are ready to um get into the next level. Uh we are in the middle of or not the middle we're at the beginning of uh NJSLA the New Jersey Student Learning Standards Assessment. Uh we did not miss it at all I'm sure. Um however our kids are off to a great start. Uh so our elementary schools will be wrapping up this week uh for their um uh

035ELA assessment and then they'll be going into uh math and science over the over the next few weeks. Uh in your uh minutes, we talked about it at education committee. Um in your minutes you can see the dates for all of the upcoming uh all the upcoming assessments. Um and also it's available uh on our website. So, I just want to acknowledge and say thank you to everyone who's at home um charging their Chromebooks and sending our kids in. We visited all the schools uh to see it all in action and and um you know, it's pretty much gone gone off without a hitch. So, it's been a been a great start. Uh, one, um, I guess one final announcement. Um, if you're, um, into StubHub, uh, three things trending on StubHub is, uh, Zack

036Brown Band, Billy Joel, and the Summer Explorer STEM camp. So, >> sorry, that was a good setup, right? It's good. It's good. It's for all my fans at home. It >> was a good laugh. >> It's already closed out is what you're saying. It's close. So we we um we expanded the camp to be two weeks to provide more opportunity for students. Uh so at at the facility that we have at Vikamis can um our maximum there is about 120 students. Um so we met that capacity at 602. I opened the um I'm sorry Colleen uh Mrs. We vice magic opened the um registration link at precisely 600 p.m. and by 6:02 she had to close the link because we met the 120 student capacity. So very exciting. Uh for those of you I mean

037we started getting emails at 6:09 like hey did you open it yet? Like yes we did. I apologize it's closed, but you will have an opportunity to register for week two. And I will do the same onslaught with school messenger uh opportunities that I did the last couple days. Make sure everyone knows that um the link will be available prior to the opening. But on April 28th at 6 p.m. you would have to log in and you have to um register your students. And the sooner you do by by 600 p.m. the more likely a chance you have. I'm sorry we can't accommodate everybody. I wish we could. It's just the capacity that we have. Um but this year we're going to we're going to we're doubling it. So we're going to be able to

038provide we're not we're not allowing anyone to do two weeks. You register for one week and then you're able to um but tomorrow the people who registered tonight will receive an email confirming their reser uh uh res >> res I'll say reservation because you know >> registration sorry I've been talking for too long. Uh confirming their registration tomorrow and then we'll get the bus forms out. Uh that also allows them to know that they can relax, that they have a registration in place, and that a new group of people can register on uh Thursday night, April 28th at 6 p.m. So, I will share all of that uh to the community uh through through school messenger. And that's it. Great success. We're excited for uh another opportunity to to do that uh to do those

039projects. Uh along that same line, uh we have also opened our registration for our summer reading and math program which we we're just calling it this you know I don't know how for how much longer we can provide the extended day. I know for at least the next two summers with the co relief funds we are bless you we are uh able to offer a full day experience with language arts uh social skills and um and math um you know at the end of two years when when those funding that you know that funding structure is no longer available we'll have to take a look and see and see what we can do but uh we've had tremendous success with it. The um uh the feedback so far is that we've got more enrollment than

040we had the previous summer, which last year was our um you know all-time record and uh we are beating that already with three years after three weeks after the registration was out. So um great things great things for the uh students of West Milford this summer. >> That's it. I >> I just have a question about the buses that went to the college fair. Do we know about how many kids did I miss that? Uh we had we had many students. >> Yeah, we had about three bus loads worth of worth of students. So I believe we were in the um most 60s. >> Good. Okay, Courtney, >> I just was wondering if you could talk a little bit about the Lincoln message that you sent out. >> Yeah, I should have mentioned that. Okay,

041so thank you for asking. >> Yep. >> Teamwork. Um yeah, so I did send a um I sent a message last night uh and it's been a question that's come up um a few times in terms of how we can share how we can best share Lincoln results with uh with the community. So we have um tried a number of things. Uh it it was uh easier for us to share paper copies at the elementary level just with the type of report and the printing process that that takes place. However, that was not feasible to do with the middle school and the high school. So, we shifted gears and we looked for a digital solution. Uh the first digital solution we investigated was the creation of a uh parent portal which is um you know

042something that linkit has on their on their platform but was not activated by us yet. Um and that process ended up being um very cumbersome and elaborate which we are still participating in. The parent portal will be up and running. However, it would have it's going to uh take a few more weeks uh to get that get that going. So what we were able to do was share the student portal. So, the student portal is something that every um West Milford student has access to in Lincoln, not just for link assessments, but there's other other things that that students can act uh access in there. Um so on um believe yesterday, two nights ago, I shared the um information on how to log in to the student portal so uh parents could get in there

043and see the results for the current year benchmark assessments, benchmark assessment A, benchmark assessment B, which again are um assessments that our students take that directly correlate to the New Jersey student learning standards that they should be learning in their classroom at that point in time. Uh once we get through this roll out and work out the kinks for the sharing of the student portal, Mr. Winston and I will share the information for the parent portal. Once that's up and running, we'll be able to go back in time and share previous year results. So, that is on the table. Uh I I received a few emails, so I just want to address it publicly in case other people wonder why there's an asterisk that comes up that says that the district has um the district

044has refrained from sharing certain data. So that what that is referring to is previous year uh previous year assessments. So we're not hiding anything. It's it's all it's all there. If you want to anyone wants to see what's exactly, you know, the full the full um going back to 2015, you can see that. just ask uh ask your teacher or uh guidance counselor or building office for for that access. Once we get the parent portal up and running, we'll be able to go back in time and and share the results of that data. So, thank you for asking that. >> I just I just have one more quick thought about that. I think that that's great. I'm so glad that parents have access to that because that gives us such an insight into our kids

045project uh progress. Um, I'm just thinking you're probably going to do that again and let parents know that, you know, you can look at link it and see the benchmarks again. Um, I'm wondering if maybe we can make that announcement when it's not NJSLA time just because I think some of the community members might have been confused that it had to do with NJSLA. So maybe >> and camp. >> Yeah, two separate things. That would that would be amazing. Thank you. I I also think maybe we should have a tutorial or something on our website to explain about link a little. >> So there are tutorial videos that I am uh when we release the parent portal uh Mr. Winston and I will share those. But we are also going to be planning with myself

046um and whatever team I can coersse into joining me to do a little Google live Google meet session for anyone who wants to jump on and ask questions on how to interpret the data. um you know that'll that'll be helpful because it is essentially it's for our educators. The the results that you find in Lincoln are a tool for our staff to you know take a look at where a student is at it at that particular point in time determine which learning standards they've mastered which learning standards they need improvement on. So it's an educator's tool but we're giving parents the uh the glimpse into that into that information. I think that would be a good idea because after sitting through many meetings about link it I would probably watch the tutorial just to figure

047out because I you know I don't have a student and I I think it's important that we understand what's going on. So um I appreciate that. Thank you Dan. >> And coincidentally I just learned how to I just mastered the use of school messenger. So look out. You haven't heard from me in a while but I am back with a vengeance. >> Okay. >> Get ready. Do we have to take your privileges away or something? >> I can I can we might have to select privilege. >> I can select individual board members and send them honey wells >> or school messages. So >> be careful. >> Thank you, Dan. Um Mrs. Francisco, >> you have the U minutes from the March meetings um of March 22nd and March 29th available for um review and discussion

048and approval. Uh I need a motion for the minutes. I'd >> like to make a motion to approve the following board of education meeting minutes. March 22nd, 2022 preliminary preliminary budget hearing special action meeting. March 22, 2022 executive session. March 29th, 2022 workshop regular meeting. March 29th, 2022 executive session. I need a second. >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> I. Any opposed? Okay. President's report. I don't have much on my report. Um, the one thing that I'm I I did get to attend the art and musical f music fest which was wonderful uh as always and I just loved going from area to area. I like that it's broken down a little bit. It used to be a little overwhelming everybody being in different places and it seemed that people move throughout the

049building well and the the students were outstanding. Our art and music program is just to me is heads heads and tails above anybody else. Uh, and if you haven't gone to it, you should see it. It's very important. I think it's one of the one of our highlights of of our school. Ha. Having said that, I I want to piggyback on something that was said tonight about the National Honor Society. It it makes me sad that we're not there as a board, and I I I feel that we really have to work on a universal calendar for the entire district. I think with, you know, the technology age, we should figure a way to be able to do this. I know things are going to overlap and there's only so many days in the year,

050but some of these big things are really important to us. And you know, I can only speak personally for me as a board member. Some of the greatest some of my happiest memories on being on the board fall in these areas. Um, scholarship night is one of my all-time favorite nights to sit there because we truly are recognizing our kids and we're recognizing kids in a range of of academics and sports and everything and it's a great night to sit there and say, you know, this is why we do this. This is a great thing. So, I I really think it's important that we get that universal calendar working for us. >> I'll just jump on that. We do have it for discussion on Thursday at SRT. >> Okay. Um, we are going to make

051sure there aren't any conflicts next year. We have our board calendar through December already and then we'll get our January 23 to June 23 calendar done next year, but we'll ask our principles to keep their Tuesdays clear of these types of events so we don't have conflict. We don't know exactly when our meetings will be next spring, but we know they'll be on a Tuesday. So, we'll just try to avoid those Tuesdays. So, apologies to the board. I know many of you were looking forward to going. We do have a Makipin National Junior Honor Society event tomorrow night if you're interested. Uh that'll be 7 o'clock at Macken. Um but like I said, I apologize and we'll make sure that we don't have these conflicts moving forward. >> Thank you, Alex. Um public comment. This

052portion of the meeting is open to members of the public for the purpose of addressing resolutions on this agenda only. Members of the public who have requested to speak prior to the meeting will be recognized by the 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 time 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 give their full name, spell their last name, group affiliation if appropriate, and provide their address. Issues raised by the members of the public may or may not be responded to by the

053board. All comments will be considered and a response will be forthcoming if and when appropriate. The board asks that the 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 the members of the public. Members of the public should consider their comments in the light of the legal rights of those affected or identified it in their comments. Members of the public are reminded that they are legally responsible and liable for their comments. Anyone wishing to speak under public

054comment? >> Second. >> Okay. All those in favor to close public comment. >> I Okay, we need a motion to to uh adopt the agenda that spread before us. >> Like to make a motion to adopt the agenda as presented. >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> I. >> All those in favor? Hi. >> Hi. >> I wanted to ask for a revision. I'm sorry. I was >> waiting for Alex's revisions. >> I I can add it somewhere else. It's okay. >> Oh, you could when we go into comments, you can if there's an issue. >> Yeah, there's something that I wanted to request being added. I could bring it up somewhere else. That's >> I think you're okay. Thank you. >> Um operations and finance. Uh Jay, >> um I'd like to move

055one through 10. >> Second. Oh, one first. >> Okay. >> I still second it. >> Okay. >> Discussion. >> I I have something. Um would it be possible for us to table this and fill executive session because I know there are some board members that have concerns >> and there's somebody who's not here yet >> and there's someone who's not here yet to vote. >> So, >> second. I well you can table it until later in the meeting here but that's different from moving into executive session because I don't know what this is. >> Oh okay. So Mr. Gino is not here. So let's give him the opportunity to get here and table it till he's here. How's that? >> Okay. That's what I >> I'll second. Okay. So Terry made the motion and Kate

056seconded the motion to table till later in the meeting. >> We're going to have to table some >> You're going to need to table some other resolutions because they're dependent on the budget. >> Oh, okay. Okay. >> Yeah, the rehire. We probably shouldn't do the rehires. >> Okay. Well, >> until the budget's been approved. That's why we moved that one first. So if we're not going to move that, we should >> have to hold off on some other things as well. >> Got it. >> Will that work? >> Okay. >> That may not work either. >> No, that's personal. >> I guess there's other things there. Um >> well, we can go two through 10, right? >> To education. >> No, >> because five is contingent on the budget. Oh, >> that's the most expensive.

057It means a problem. >> Never mind. >> I tried. I tried kids. I tried. >> Can we do number five? >> No, five is a problem. She said five is the problem. >> That's for next year. >> Okay. So, can we skip then to >> All right. Wait a minute. Because we haven't voted on tableabling. >> Yes. >> Okay. Let's vote on the tableing. uh of motion number one for later in the meeting. >> Moved by Mrs. Dwire and it was second by Mrs. Romeo. >> Um well all those in favor of tableabling. >> Yes. I >> Any opposed? >> Okay. No one. Okay. >> Speaking of which, >> Ah, here he is. >> I think >> he's on his way. Just I'd like to make a motion to unt get settled. Let's let's go

058through what we have to go through here, I think. Or >> so can we go on motion on under operations and finance? Can we move two, three, and four >> without table? >> How about we just a couple minutes? >> We were just going to >> Well, we could come back. We could come back to it then. We take a fiveminut break, >> right? >> Why don't you just take a recess? >> Okay, let's that we'll do that. Can uh we we're going to break >> We're going to recess for 10 minutes. Does that sound all right? >> All those in favor? >> I >> Any opposed? >> Do I need a motion to recess? >> Okay. Thanks. >> Why are we discussing? I'd like to call the meeting back to order. Back to motion

059number one. >> We have to vote to untot number one. Do we need a motion to do? We need a motion to unt. >> All those in favor? >> I. >> Okay. Now you can go back to moving number one. >> Can I move it or can I open it up? >> Well, you have to move it and then open it. Right. >> Like to move number one. >> Okay. Discussion. >> Right. You just go. >> Okay. That's why I was tabled. So go ahead. >> Good. Because I wasn't here for the presentation. >> No. But the one page that stands out to me is the general fund expenses. So general education, it looks like we're adding $118,000 to general education. >> Right? Which is 610 of a percent. Looks like we're taking away 16%

060from Encore and bilingual. Then we're adding 2.6% for administration. So, I I missed that part of the presentation. Maybe you can help me understand why administration's going up $128,000. I know the benefits thing is >> salary, benefits, which gets what else gets tabulated into admin? >> Well, benefits is listed separately, right? So, >> yes. Yes. >> Administration also includes technology. Uh Mike, >> Mike. >> Um it also includes your technicians. Um and also since some of the um we haven't settled the administrative contract. So there was a larger jump because they're going from the they're missing the 2122 school year of salary increment. So we're get putting two years of salary increment into the administrative contract for the WMPSA this year. >> We did have money in the 2122 right for salary increment. Well, there

061was only there there was an adjustment, but there was no salaries. >> So, >> but I don't believe there was enough money to cover the salary that was settled on. >> Just seems like such a big number. And I know that we >> I just also want to comment on Encore. We didn't um we didn't cut Encore. >> Certainly, we've got more Encore support than we've ever had before. Um this was an adjustment because we were able to leverage the um federal grants that we received. So that's how we were able to um >> not Yeah. Off offset and and you know save for the taxpayer while also boosting our academic support. >> Okay. Do we have are there situations where there I know we're working through attrition, right, with some retirements and so forth,

062but there will be some non-renewals, right? >> Correct. We didn't have a lot of retirements this year. We had a couple midyear. >> Yeah. >> But we don't have too many for June. Um we sometimes get them in May, >> right? you know, sometimes they in June, but when when they come in, you're typically replaced with people making lower salaries. So, you do have some savings there. >> We do have some non-renewals. We can hire some of those people back as non-renewals come in. Uh, presently, we have I mean, just we we may have one retirement coming in. We have right now one kindergarten class at UGL for September. We've budgeted for two, but we only have I want to say 18 students registered for September. So my expectation is that number will increase and

063once it gets over threshold, we'll have to open up a second section, which is fine because we budgeted for two and then we can rehire to fill that. But until that number goes up, I don't want to hire a second teacher. We're only at 18 now. I think we'll go up to, you know, upper 20s, but you know, until we do, we just have to be more cautious. So, a lot of the people that were non-renewed, we'll have a opportunity to bring back, >> right, >> at some point. >> So, somebody retires, we can bring back a non-renew, >> correct? >> And like you mentioned, somebody retires probably 20 years plus. Somebody comes back probably a little bit less. >> 30 years plus, >> right? Yeah. >> Somebody that comes back probably a little bit

064less. >> It's almost always a a lesser. There's almost always some breakage there. >> So, we do have some non we do have some non-renewals in teaching. Do we have non-renewals in administration? Any non-renewals for admin administration? >> No. >> Okay. That's why and that's what I'm trying to get at with that 128. It just feels different to me. >> Those those line items are not just in in the general expenditures. That doesn't just include personnel though, right? I know that. >> That includes insuranceances and um salaries and >> right it's not just salary >> right >> I know [Applause] >> Courtney >> can I just ask because Ray brought this to light so just to be clear Dan with Encore are there's Encore is going to stay kind of how it is this year

065with what we have going on this year >> next here. >> We've budgeted in the grant until the school year. Uh at that point in time, you know, there's a lot of lot of discussions that are that are in in play for how we, you know, the restructuring discussion about how things work. But at the current moment, we will um be able to exist with our current academic support uh through the Encore program until 2425 school year. So that's one. So PK, Maple, and Westbrook have one full-time encore teacher. >> Absu, Marshall, and UGL have 1.5. >> I think that's really important because I think the effects >> and that's by design that the title schools have to have more than >> the non-titled schools. >> So that grant is going to be funding through

066for the next two years. It's not like it's it'll go away in two years. >> So So we received all the funds from that grant. There's no more money coming. Okay. But we were able to take a look at what we wanted to do over the next few years and budget it accordingly. Same thing we're doing with STEM and >> Okay. So, we're definitely going to have Encore in the schools even though there is a >> increase. I'm just >> So, we're always going to have Encore. It just at some point we're not going to have this extra. Well, we we we have it for all the schools always. We just we're now we're adding extra. So we've always had even pre- pandemic >> Westbrook had a 0.5 encore teacher. Okay. >> So there was

067always there's always encore everywhere. It was just increased and at some point it's going to go back down to what it was in 2019. >> Mhm. >> Which is either.5 or 1.0. Right now it's 1.0 and 1.5. So it's always going to have that support. And we did this grant money which came in all at once. We didn't spend it all at once. I know some districts may have. We tried to space it out because they give you a few budget years to spend the grant money in. So, we tried to spread it out a little bit to cushion some of the blow of uh the state aid cuts. So, we could have added all the one year's budget and boosted our encore to 2.5 everywhere, but then it would have fallen off a cliff.

068So, we tried to spread it out and use as much use a little bit every year. So >> Jason, >> was it said that u Mike >> Mike was it said that in the uh administration that the benefits was involved in that increase? >> So the benefits were going to be down below. >> Okay. So they're not include I thought I heard that they were included in that. >> No insurance like there's you know different insurance like the bonding treasurer bonds um and different board related insurance that's included in that cost which is not health benefits. >> Okay. I thought I heard that the health benefits increase was in that. Yeah, but it's salary increases for um the >> rate project >> but for negot >> Yeah, because we have to take into consideration two

069years >> because they're they've been working without a contract, >> right? Exactly. And the salaries that were in the budget last year were from two years ago. So there's a difference. >> Any other questions on the budget? >> So I was going to ask so we're going to vote on it. Can't >> discuss it any >> we asked the table for executive session and >> you could yeah ask as many questions as you like. >> Okay. Um, and again, you know, apologize for getting here a little bit late, but Alex, can you just explain? I know you explained it for the public already, but the administrative costs lower than regional limit, maybe page three or so. >> Northern region limit. >> So, the state sets an administrative limit. Everything that falls under administrative cost, kind

070of what Barbara said. >> So, there's a there's three limits in the state. There's north, central, and south by region. The northern limit is the highest because it's perceived to be the highest cost of living. So the limit is that amount per pupil, 2479 per pupil. West Milford spends 2150 per pupil. So we're not even close to the limit. So if you multiply that difference by about 3,000 students, you come up with about a million dollars. So this is the time of year when districts approve their budgets, they are $1. You have to be at or lower than the limit. you can't exceed it. So very often they have to make cuts and they're at 24.78 or 24.78.50 per pupil. They're right at the limit. We are well under. So um the point I made

071during the presentation was that it's um it's low on overhead costs. If you want to use admin costs as overhead, which is not the best metaphor, but >> um so it's an extra million dollar. It's a studentfriendly budget. We're trying to put money into the classrooms where they help children directly and I think we have done that here. Um, >> right. >> So I I just want to make So if I'm hearing you correctly, the limit is 2479 which means you can't go over that. Like there are no school districts over that. We're at 2150. >> Not in the northern region, >> right? So and we're at 2150. So there could be school districts many as you're >> somewhere between us but there could be some that are lower than us too right >> I

072would imagine so I don't have all the numbers yet but I'm sure >> but the point is 247 is not an average of everything it's just what you can't go >> it's the max it's not an average of anything max yeah >> that helps >> any other question discussions on the budget local. >> Mr. Stillman, >> come back. >> Mr. Gino, >> no. >> Mrs. Stevenson, >> no. >> Mrs. Lockwood, >> no. >> Mrs. Mr. Dwire, >> no. >> Mrs. Romeo, >> no. >> Mr. Conklin, >> no. >> M O'Brien, >> no. >> Mrs. Van Dyk, >> no. >> Mr. Stillman, >> Now what? >> Right. >> Well, now they have to determine why they're voting no. >> Well, yes, that's the issue. Approve the budget by Yes. >> Which also ties up half the

073rest of your agenda. >> And we have to do another public We'd have to do another public hearing >> and it's a public discussion. Correct. >> Yeah. You're going to have to talk about it because you're going to have to hash it out. >> You can't you can't not approve a budget. I I think we we made it pretty clear during the preliminary budget that we very much wanted um you to look at administration everything that goes into that whether it's um >> personel >> personnel attorney fees all of it we don't want to see our classes and our students and our teachers getting cut this is a very teacher oriented I feel board and you are cutting teachers, you are affecting our children and I think that's where we're coming from. >> Agreed. >>

074Go around. >> Yeah. So, so I I understand the reality for some non-renewals for sure. Like that's just the nature of where we are with the with the student population. I understand that. But I think that right it needs to be consistent across the board. I understand we may need to have some non-renewals, but maybe there are one or two that we don't need and maybe we can look at some of that administration as as Courtney had mentioned. I think this also makes a great statement that this board will not continue to be lied to. And when there's a proposed budget presentation and we're told that there are cuts because of a budget, then make it because of a budget, not highly effective teachers not teaching our students. Um, I think that's a really big

075statement and I think that that is really important to remember that we want the best here in West Milford. We want the best for you, you, all of our community members, all of us. That was just a unanimous vote of a board that gives their heart and soul to this. And it hurt, I think. I mean, I was like, God, my blood pressure is really, this hurts, you know. Um, but we also ask for things over and over and I don't know who who's hearing sometimes and the utilization study is a great example or the riffs, you know, bringing that up that that's upsetting, you know, and and I did my work and I did my phone calls and it still wasn't changed. and and I think, you know, this is a big speech of

076we want to work together. Um, but we really want what's best for our community and our kids. >> Yeah, I think we all we all agree. We want what's best for our kids. No question about it. We're going to disagree on how that is, but we all agree. We we're here for kids. So, I think uh I do agree on that. >> Yeah. >> Anyone else discussion on budget? Terry? Um, we did ask we did ask Dr. Anamone to look at administration and try to save our teaching staff. And as Courtney and and others have pointed out, our teaching staff is very important to us. They take care of our children. They nurture our children. Um, this this administration needs to listen to us as a board and maybe not do what we want because

077we're not supposed to micromanage, but they need to listen because we understand the community and the community needs the teachers and the kids need the teachers in the classroom. Thank you. >> Anyone else under on the about the budget? So, where do we go from there? >> You have to figure out what cuts you're going to make. >> Well, there there's a major problem. Um the the major problem is that um you may be able to move money around within the budget itself, but to cut the final number means a a reduction in your either uh the fund balance or the tax levy. So, um that's only going to create more problems for you next year because um this budget here in order to maintain what you do have is supported by $4 million that

078you will not have next year. and we are trying to preserve the programs that we do have. Um because of the last two years in the pandemic, um we've not talked about restructuring with the board because there were too many other things that were going on. And um had we restructured um for this budget, we probably would have a little bit more flexibility for 23 24. But at this point in time, um, I can say that there's a lot of work that needs to be done in order for us not to eventually go into a deficit and bring in a state monitor. >> Okay. So are you saying that the the overall budget right of the 745 we can approve the 745 >> Mhm. >> but we could move the money differently. In other words,

079if we may um not reduce somebody in administration, let's say, and that could keep a teacher or two teachers or whatever it might be. >> Okay. I'm just going to play devil's advocate right now. >> I'm Yeah, I'm >> Yes, we can because you do transfers all the time. >> Okay. Um we're fortunate. We don't do a lot of transfers in this district, but we do transfer our money around. And you do have limits what could be transferred from one account to another, but we're usually well within that range. >> Um, give me a minute. I lost my train of thought. While you're doing that, some >> So, what happens what happens if >> when all is said and done, you have a you know, we're we're very concerned about class sizes at the high

080school and running classes um annually based upon class sizes. But by the same token, if you have three sections at a certain grade and you only have 12 kids in every section, that's problem. That's not a good educational environment for a young child. Um just as if you have one section, it's not a good e educational environment for one child because they're in the same class year after year after year. So, um, you know, I think I think you have to take a look at where our enrollments are going to be. >> Yeah. So, you said three sections of 12 in a class is not good for the education of a child. >> I don't think it's a healthy personally >> again >> personally I don't think it's a healthy educational environment for because students

081learn from each other. you have centered you have centered um you know instruction and and doc Mr. Novak is probably a lot more ver I'm I'm doing it from a parent perspective and what I've learned over 24 years but I've never spent any time in the classroom other than student teaching and substitute teaching. So Mr. Novak, >> you're referring to cooperative learning. >> I I I >> believe. >> Well, I I think >> learn as much from each other as >> I have a first I my daughter-in-law is a first grade teacher and I have tremendous amount of respect for her. >> And let me say that in her school district, they don't break they don't they don't add another section to a a grade level until there's 30 students in the class. >> Okay.

082So, but I think we we're in that right differentiated learning which means right every child learns differently. So, if every child learns differently again and I can't speak to that either. I can speak to you know I've coached students children and it it's it's a lot easier to coach a group of five than it is to coach a group of 15. Right. So, and I'm not like again I'm not in the classroom so I'm with you. I but I think if we're doing differentiated learning where you every child's different some of them could be on different levels yet we need to try and teach them the same and keep them at the same pace. I I don't know that you just on the outside looking in I don't know know that if 12 isn't better

083than 30 and Dr. animal maybe right 12 is better than 30 >> 12 is amazing >> certainly is but what I'm saying is 12 >> 12 12 is not necessarily the best learning environment for them either >> 12 is amazing >> and when you're talking about first graders second graders and fourth graders 12 is amazing there's so much that a teacher can do with 12 students but I don't think we're going to de I I don't think we're going to debate this tonight I think we need a problem-solving solution When is this budget due? >> How do we walk out of here with a budget? >> Next week. What day? No, the budget. When is the last drop dead date for the budget where we have to have a meeting and approve it? I know

084you have to advertise. I know there's other things that you have to do. Is it the 5th? I I was looking at the calendar tonight and I is the May 5th the last date for possible notice on the budget because I would like to propose that administration goes back to the drawing board. I would like to propose that they look and hear us as a board of education and that we meet again publicly. >> Second. >> Wait. >> While Barbara's looking at that, can I just say something because I am a resident here as well. So my children go here. Mr. Novak's in the same boat that I am. I respect each and one of you, each and every one of you as board members. And I know that you're here for the right reasons

085of kids. I really believe that. But I am disappointed tonight that everybody voted no because and I'm speaking as a parent and as my position as director, especially when I also hear that there's a budget that is looking at this from a fiscal perspective, looking in the long-term plan. I understand that everybody maybe has certain concerns that are in the budget, but then when you talk about leadership, and again, I'm speaking from a parent perspective, too. The essence of leadership is to have a vision and a vision for where the district is going to go. Leadership and learning are absolutely necessary in both parts. So I think right now where sometimes we might be getting cut um caught up in but if we then cut an administrator, let's just say we could save a teacher,

086right? And you just heard Dr. Anamone say we need to think about restructuring and what the future is going to bring us. I think you're cutting yourself short because if you don't have leadership, you're talking about eight principles, right? That's a principal for every building. You have a supervisor at the academy that also does special services and then you have four other supervisors. You're not talking about a district that has a lot of administrators. I came from two other districts that are m have many more administrators. If you don't have leaders, you're not going to be able to move your vision forward. Now, I agree with you with the class sizes. I agree. But I just want to make sure that the board knows and that's where no one's really speaking in specifics as to

087where you want to cut. But I want the public to know you don't have a lot of administrative. You don't have a big administrative team. And if you look back at prior boards, administrators were cut time and time again. So that's all I'm just going to say to put out there to you guys. >> I think when we say administration, I think it's all encompassing administration. your secretaries, your lawyer, everything that has to do with administration. Um, the people who aren't in direct contact with our children. I think that there's ways to do this that is not cutting highly effective teachers. I agree with you. I don't think that there's a lot of supervisors and I think you need every single one of them, but I think that there's other things that Barbara can look

088at and you guys as a team can look at to cut. >> And I I'll just say I I differ. I I >> I think you can you can look at supervisors and to your point about leadership, I think servant leadership is important. And I think as a school district, our leaders need to do that. Look at it as being servant leaders. And I think if you do that, you can do it with less leaders. We have to find a way to get to a point where we can resol resolve this. The only question that I do have for you Barbara the budget itself I've said the budget itself what you were saying in being you know playing de if there if we wanted to cut after the budget was >> approved can we still

089do that >> once the budget's approved the dollar figure >> not the dollars you can transfer a position if we wanted to cut a position. >> So the approvals are on this agenda. >> You have approvals, but then you would have to give someone 60 days notice. >> So >> the but what we're we're rehiring everybody on the agenda. >> So that's after the budget. So but we put that we put the renewals for next year after the budget. So we can do one then the other. >> When's our next board meeting? They have to be done by May 15. >> May 15th is the drop dead date on the >> So if if there's one particular piece, let's say because we're everything, right? >> If we get to administration, we could just vote no

090to administration. Is that what you're saying? >> I'm I'm not saying that. I so I'm going to look at Andy and >> what can we do in that case if we didn't approve >> a specific group? >> Make sure your mic's on. >> My mic's on. >> He's got >> I did it on you approve as this is Francisco said you approve the total budget and you can make changes within that total budget. You can't say, "I'm not going to approve line 742." >> Okay? >> So, you've got to come to grips with the total dollar amount is okay, and you may want to switch things around within those dollar total dollar amounts between now and whatever day the budget's due, but that seems to be your option. >> Okay. >> We can't eliminate a

091position >> once the budget is adopted, >> right? And if we approve the 74.5 Oh, no. I just said I said that you you have to you would have to give a an an individual 60 days notice, >> right? So, if we but if it if we if we wanted to eliminate a position in the budget, we could do that after the budget's been adopted. That's my question. >> Yes, >> I believe that. Yes. >> So, we can approve the 74.5. If if there are other positions that we go for non-renewal, we it could go to 74.3 and that would be okay. >> No, no. Again, I know the budget's still 70 the budget would still be 745, right? So, it would money would fall taxpayer then either. >> Well, when is the last date

092for the budget board? trying to go through the guidelines. I believe it is next Friday, >> but that's the last date you can have the budget meeting or the last date to advertise for the budget. >> The hearing. That's what I mean. >> I believe that it's due to the county. I have the I don't have the calendar in front of me. Let's see. I'm trying to find the calendar. >> Have a budget book with them. >> So, this is C. Is there opportunity to go to the county for an extension? >> I'm just wondering. >> I don't believe so. Unless there was some sort of exigent >> like circumstance >> like the state cutting $2 million from our >> That's a pretty >> like a hurricane hit the >> I think that's pretty >>

093I don't I don't think that they're going to care. I >> I don't think so. I don't want to say no. But my gut would be no. >> Well, then the only other thing that we could do if we have to have another meeting, we would have to have a meeting on >> Next Tuesday, May 3rd. I mean, it doesn't have to be the third, but can everybody make the third? >> I'll be away on business. I could be back at Thursday night, I think. >> Did we abolish the being able to attend these meetings virtually as board members? Yeah, that was the only reason why you could do it was because of co we never we always never we never had it. >> No, I understand that other districts still do it right now.

094I was wondering if we abolished it so we don't have that option because that might be helpful next week. >> Well, the it's still not a good that's not a Well, I shouldn't say that. I feel it's not a good practice >> and I still wouldn't be able to do that. >> Just I it could be a different day than the third. I mean, maybe I don't know. Monday. >> I could do the 5th. >> Um, I could do Monday the >> second. >> We We had county meeting, but we had to do that. >> Scroll down. The second the is the county meeting to do it. >> That's a Monday. >> Mhm. >> I'll make it work. >> So we need a motion for that. >> Yeah. >> We need 40. We going to

095notice it this week. >> Yeah. Barbara's not used to a Mac, so we're just trying to >> struggling. Okay. Okay. >> I'm not used to not being able to touch. >> So then everybody is good for for Monday the 2nd. There's no one that has an issue. So Monday >> on Monday >> deadline to adopt the budget is Saturday May 14th. >> Oh okay. >> Okay. >> End of the week. >> All right. So >> well well it's going to be before then. Please it should be before. Um, so would um >> we have committees on the 10th, but could we maybe we could move committees to to the third and have the meeting on the 10th, which maybe would give more explanation to some things also. >> Mhm. >> Does that make sense? >>

096Would you? So why don't we do that? Why don't we make t Tuesday the 10th our board meeting and Tuesday the 3 our committee meeting. >> Is everybody good with those dates? >> Yes. >> Yeah. No, the only it's not >> the only the only difficulty that I have with the third being committee meetings is that there might not I might not have information that I'm waiting for in order to >> All right. So, could we do because we we >> Why don't you do it a different day? >> Okay, we could do committees a different day. Would would you want to do >> Huh? >> Thursday the >> You're gone. Okay. How about how about the fifth? Can we do the fifth? Thursday the 5th. >> Would that get that gives you enough time

097even if you had to advertise some Well, we'll advertise for the meeting anyway, but it still gives you >> right. Yes, I know. But I know she has to advertise for the other meeting. >> So, there might be but we're going to have discussion in committee. So, that might I'm just Yeah. so that they can advertise on just in case so that we have don't have another glitch because we're up against the 14th date. That's all. Would that work for >> So you're saying Thursday >> Thursday the 5th for committee and then Tuesday the 10th for our um our budget the last budget hearing. or enough time if things are discussed. >> Committee that gives two working days. >> I'm sorry. What? >> Okay. I'm just not sure I guess why I was getting moved

098from the third. >> Because the third she needs more time. >> There are things that I want to put on my May agenda for the board to >> discuss for the May meeting that I'm not going to have all that information. >> Thank you. I didn't understand what the time was for. It's had nothing to do with this. I get it. >> So, I guess kind of speaking to that same point then is the board understanding that with committees that week, I know they wanted things at committee, but there's going to be >> it might not all come in at that time. >> And if we h I think we could even if we had to if like we needed a personnel committee within we could probably figure that out. decision. >> Okay. So, committee

099will be Thursday, May 5th and the board meeting will be Tuesday, May 10th. >> And everybody is good on those dates. >> Yes. >> So, no more >> except except Andy, but he will have somebody else come. >> No, we And then we're going to have the May meeting on the 17th. >> That's fine >> because that will This is a special action meeting. The 10th is special action. But she still needed the information for committee though, right? >> For the agenda stuff. >> We'll see what we have. >> We'll get this noticed and then uh we don't have to notice committees, but we'll notice the A10, >> right? So, we take a vote on this. Okay. I need a motion. >> So, I'd like to make a motion to propose the new >> uh

100an added date for the board of education meeting on >> Tuesday meeting. >> Special action meeting on Tuesday, May 10th at 7 p.m. >> Second. >> Any discussion? >> Can I do I need a vote or Okay. All those in favor >> I >> Any opposed? Okay. So now do we table this >> rest of it? >> Yes. >> I would go through the agenda and see what has to be >> Yeah, we can get >> there are some things that >> All right. But >> okay. Okay. So, >> all right. I have to go back to you, Jay. And we're going we're going to have to go down the agenda. >> All right. >> Looks like >> it looks like 2, three, four are okay, Jay. >> Okay. >> Three and four are okay.

101>> What about six? Six has to be tabled. Okay. Six has to be tabled. >> Um, eight has to be tabled. Seven is good. I think 10 is definitely good. Thank you. Maple Road PTA. >> Yes. >> Nine is okay. >> The payroll is okay. Um >> the other that's okay. >> Is five good or nine? >> Five good. >> No. >> Is seven. Okay. Because it's only um >> Well, that's that's to authorize me to do bid documents if I need to do it. And >> does it does it matter if we approve that after the budget or not? You you know, >> we could do that tonight. >> I think you could do that. >> Well, I'm I'm having a conference, so if I have to do bid documents, I don't want to

102wait for three weeks to do that. >> That's that that would be fine. >> All right. So, you need we need to Jay, you're going to need to move. >> Okay. I got it. >> You got it. >> Okay. I got it. >> I'm ready. >> Paying attention. >> I'd like to move two, three, and four. >> Stop. Should I stop there? Keep going. >> No, keep going. 10. >> Okay. Table number five. Table number six. >> You don't have to table you. It's you just >> I'd like to n >> Oh, okay. Next time. >> Okay. Um, any discussion? >> Yes, Kate. >> Um, >> I'd like to make a motion to add the utilization study to number two. >> I'm sorry, what? >> She wants to add the utilization study to number two.

103>> We don't know how much that is. Correct. >> And we don't know who's going to do it. I believe Barbara does knew that stuff very popular. >> Yeah, it was in the proposal. >> Yeah, >> it's on our >> How much is it? >> 4,000 >> for for the utilization study, >> facilities analysis, >> right? Second. >> Second >> too late. >> It's not too late. >> No, I said it might. >> Okay. Oh, >> this is a discussion. Uh, do we know who's going to It's the same group that does both both studies. Ross Haber would do it. >> Okay. So I I have to do a voice vote on that. A roll call. >> Do you have a amendment to the motion? >> Yes. >> So you have to go amend and

104you have to vote on the motion. >> Okay. And is it a roll call vote or is a voice? It should be roll call. Okay. All right. So the amendment to the motion is what? I would like to meet the recommendation of the superintendent to accept the proposal from Les Hab Associates Middletown, New Jersey for an enrollment project and demographic study update in the amount of $4,500 and a utilization study in the amount of $4,000. >> That's it. >> Who's moving that and second? Second move. >> Kate moved it. >> Kate moved that. I'd second it. >> And Ray seconded it. Any other discussion on it? >> Roll call on it. Barb. >> Mr. Conklin. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Dwire. >> Yes. >> Mr. Greeno. >> Yes. >> Mr. Mrs. Lockwood. >> Yes. >> Mrs.

105O'Brien. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Romeo. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Stevenson. >> Yes. >> Mr. Stillman. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Van Dyke. >> Yes. Okay. So now we need to v that now we need to vote on the rest of the items or that was just >> including number two >> that was just a >> amendment. Okay. Now everything the motion 2 3 4 7 9 and 10 >> and two as it is amended. Okay. >> Did Linda vote on that? >> Yeah. Yes I voted. >> She said yes. Um, any more discussion on the motions before we go to vote? >> Okay, roll call. Roll call, Barb, for the motions that are before you. >> Right. That was >> 2 3 4 7 >> 9 and 10. >> Yes, >> Mr. Stillman. >> Yes, >>

106Mrs. Stevenson. >> Yes, >> Mr. Gino. >> Yes, >> Mr. O'Brien. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Lockwood, >> yes. >> Mrs. Dwer, >> yes. >> Mrs. Romeo, >> yes. >> Mr. Conklin, >> yes. >> Mrs. Van Djk, >> yes. >> X1J number 11, >> second. >> Any discussion? Roll call. >> Mr. Stillman, >> yes. >> Mrs. Stevenson, >> yes. >> Mr. Greeno, >> yes. >> Mrs. Dwer, >> yes. >> Mrs. Lockwood, >> yes. >> Mrs. O'Brien. >> Yes, >> Mr. Conklin. >> Mant Mr. >> Mr. Conklin. >> Mrs. Romeo. >> Mrs. Van Djk. >> Abstain. >> I got >> I corrected that. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Are are 11 through 15. Okay. >> 12 through 15. I'm sorry. >> Yes. >> I'd like to move 12 through 15. Second. >> Discussion. >> Roll call. >>

107Mr. Stillman. >> Yes. >> Mr. Greeno. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Stevenson. >> Yes. >> Mrs. O'Brien. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Lockwood. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Dwire. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Romeo? Yes, >> Mr. Conklin. >> Yes, >> Mrs. Van Dyke. >> Yes, >> Mr. Gino. >> Yeah, we got to look through some of these, right? >> Yeah, >> Alex. >> So, I'm looking right now. It looks like 1 through 32 pertain to this school this school year. So, they should be okay to move 1 to 32. Where's this or >> Okay. So then starting at 36 starting at what? >> I think 33 through >> 334. Okay. >> Yeah. you we should be able to approve 3334. >> It's technically for next school year. There's no money attached. >> I was say I think for

108next year it's probably better to >> There's no harm in pushing it back. I would just table from 33 through 61. >> Yeah, I would say 1 to 32 you can vote on tonight. 33 through 61 you did put at our next board meeting. >> Well, wait a minute. Because 55 is the courier position and that is for for July July. Oh, yeah. Never mind. I'm sorry. I thought it I I misread the 20. >> Yeah, July technically. >> Yeah, I I'm sorry that that >> But why can't we approve um 33 and 34 if there's no money involved? >> We we could, Terry. There's just no harm in waiting two weeks. >> I agree. >> You technically didn't renew us, >> right? >> Cuz they're not renewed for next year. >> If we don't

109renew you, we can't really Okay. Okay. >> So, so basically this is So, I'd like to make a motion under personnel student affairs to move items 1 through 32. Okay. >> Discussion under personnel. >> Um I I'm sad to see number two go. She was amazing. Um I think that this is just another concern of mine as a board member and a parent. Uh why we have so many amazing people leaving our district. Just worrisome to me. Any other discussion under personnel? >> I had a question >> about number 11. >> Just wanted to clarify something, I guess. So, she's being extended until May 12th. She's replacing Provost, but Provost is out until the 20th. Is there a reason for her not being extended until May 20th? It could be certain subs only allowed to

110sub for a certain amount of days. They're limited. >> I think she's a long-term sub because I think she's been subbing through >> reached her limit though by May 12th maybe the limit. >> Okay. >> I'll double check though. >> Okay. Uh any other discussion under personnel? I want to wish uh Mary Alonza well. She's been with our district a long time and held that department together. She's she she's been a mainstay and I I wish her well. I hope that her retirement is everything that she wishes it would be. Um Okay. So, roll call. Barbara on 1 to 32. >> Okay. Mr. Conklin. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Dwyer. >> Yes. >> Mr. Gino. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Lockwood. >> Yes. >> Mrs. O'Brien. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Romeo. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Stevenson. Yes,

111>> Mr. Stillman. >> Yes, >> Mrs. Van Dyk. >> Yes, on everything but 27. On 27, I abstain. >> Okay. Education. Mrs. Dwire. >> Okay. I have an easy one. >> Yeah. would like to move items 1 through eight on reg on uh education and number nine will be voted on after executive >> second. >> Any discussion on items 1 through eight. I I just want I just want to say that the calendar has been changed and just as a note since we're on live that the district will be closed on May 27th the Friday it will be um the Mackipin graduin promotion will be June 20th. Tuesday June 21st will be the high school graduation and June 21st will be the last day of school for students and staff. And then June 22nd is

112a supplemental professional development day for staff only. So anyone worrying wondering about the last day of school, it is June 21st. I I just want to clarify that the backup and promotion is after the Washington trip. Correct. Okay, good. Any other discussion on the motions? If not, roll call. Barber. >> Mrs. Dwire, >> yes. >> Mrs. Stevenson, >> yes. >> Mr. Gino, >> yes. >> Miss O'Brien, >> yes. >> Mr. Stillman, >> yes. >> Mrs. Lockwood, >> yes. >> Mrs. Romeo, >> yes. >> Mr. Conklin, >> yes. >> Mrs. Van Djk, >> yes. >> Mrs. Stevenson, policy. >> I'd like to make a motion to move numbers one through five. >> Second. discussion on the first one on the um revised bylaw. I have a couple questions. Um in the bylaws it says um standing

113committees of the board shall include and policies not listed. [Applause] >> Yeah, it is number eight. It's special committees but policy is considered I guess a special committee but >> we discussed this in policy and I think the consensus was that because we don't meet every single time for policy it wasn't in there >> because it's not there isn't always policies that need to be updated although throughout the course of the last two or three years we've been meeting regularly. >> Yeah we've been meeting regularly but it it falls there. That's I think >> okay you did >> so when you say yes it is >> well it's a it's it's considered a special committee because we don't meet every every month >> it's like negotiations you don't meet all the time so that's why

114it falls under the opaces of special committee versus a monthly mandatory meeting with education personnel student affairs and operation >> that makes sense yeah >> cool thanks >> thank you um I have a few questions so my next question is uh number 10. I'd like just some clarification on um >> what's number 10? >> I'm I'm on the bylaws. >> I'm sorry. So, all my questions right now are relating to our bylaws. >> Sorry, >> that's okay. Number 10. I just want some clarification on how this is going to work and when this will start. >> It has started and I am not doing it. I have given it over to Barbara and Barbara has Janet keeping a a track of who gets it. You know, I don't know if you with the job, you

115know how overtime comes, you at the top of the list, once you've filled your once you've filled that spot, you're going to fall back to the bottom of the list and the next person is going to come up. >> So, they're going to they're going to send an email out which I think went out last committee, correct? >> Yes. >> Okay. So, these notific Mr. Gino did no Mrs. Dwer filled in. >> No, Mrs. O'Brien >> and Mrs. Lockwood filled in. So, they have now fallen to the bottom of the list. >> Okay. And so, the emails will come from Janet. We've seen >> Janet will handle it because it's best to go through there. It is very important that if you're not going to make a committee meeting that you notify them the day

116before and not the day of. >> You notify me. I'm the board secretary. Yeah, >> just in case Janet's not there and I don't get her emails. >> Oh, yes. I'm sorry. >> And then if the person that you reach out to the who's going to alternate, if they cannot, would you go to the next person then? Okay. >> My next question is um B special committees. Um, I was wondering if we could add a grievance committee or was that discussed also? Adding a grievance. >> It was not discussed. >> Any other discussion on policy? Roll call. Mrs. Stevenson, >> yes. >> Miss O'Brien, >> yes. >> Mrs. Romeo, >> no. On number one, and yes on everything else, >> Mrs. Lockwood, >> yes. >> Mr. Stillman, >> yes. >> Mr. Conklin, >> yes. >>

117Mr. Greeno, >> yes. >> Mrs. Dwyer, >> yes. >> Mrs. Van Dyk, >> yes. committees, parks and recck, Mr. Cochland. >> They're not meeting or >> No, they met. I was away. >> Oh, okay. Are they still not meeting? >> It was spring break. >> Yes, it was spring break. Um, safety, there are no meetings scheduled as of now. Uh, superintendent roundt. >> Yes. So, we had a meeting. These are the minutes from March 31st provided by Kalisteniano, the president. Uh so there was a question about the proposed budget. They just wanted the uh staff cuts, clubs to be explained more. Um there was a question about whether the district has considered raising the cost of high school athletics and clubs to help offset the rising costs. Um that was discussed a little. Um and

118then the dress code was also discussed as to whether it can be enforced more in uh the high school and Mccipen. I know that they were going to discuss that. Dr. Anamone said that he would discuss it um with the staff. Yeah. >> And then um there was a question about the NJ GPA. Would the scores be made available to the parents? And as was as with other standardized reports, once provided to the district, the results will be shared with families. What happens if students don't reach the passing score and do they have other options? And there are processes in place to help students graduate. There is a portfolio appeals process as well as other tests that could take the place of NJ GPA. Um there was a question about the snow days and whether

119that decision has been made yet. Obviously, that was clarified tonight. Um and then follow-ups for the website if there was any um update on that and um what was shared is that the website is on track to be live this summer and fully operational by the uh September 2022. There was a question about spiritware designs for the elementarymentaries and Highlander Pride. There was also a question about the lunches and uh um the quality of the lunches that is being served and the district currently as the request into Trenton to accept bids for a new vendor discussed was who the surrounding districts use and uh for their lunches and there is another meeting this Thursday. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. Uh P County School Boards, there is a meeting um May 2nd, right, Jack? Uh

120we >> Yeah, we're going I think we are going now because we're able to go. Uh New Jersey school boards really got I don't have anything, Dave. >> I have nothing. I nothing. >> I thought I saw that they're finally doing a in-person training. It's like probably one of the first ones. So, I think we're moving slowly back to, you know, uh, legislative. Mrs. O'Brien >> on April 13th. Citing a handful of lesson plans that do not accurately reflect the spirit of New Jerseyy's comprehensive health and physical educa uh physical learning standards, Governor Phil Murphy directed the New Jersey Department of Education to review the standards and provide further clarification on what age appropriate guidelines look like for students. The governor noted that the learning standards in question were crafted over five months in collaboration

121with a variety of stakeholders including parents, experts, and teachers to ensure that students receive age appropriate and inclusive health as education which is critical for their physical, mental, and emotional development and well-being. At a time where we must prioritize students mental health and academic recovery in the wake of COVID n of of co 19 pandemic. It is paramount that our standards also promote in inclusivity and respect for every child including LGBTQ youth. Quoting uh Governor Murphy, in New Jersey, parents always have and always will have a say in their child's education, which includes opting their children out of any health lessons that they would rather discuss in the privacy of their own homes. To that end, the governor has directed the New Jersey Department of Education to review standards and provide further clarification what age

122appropriate guidelines look like for our students. The New Jersey Department of Education reiterated the intent and spirit of the learning standards as well as the discretion of local educational agencies to select and adopt curricula aligned to the standards without the need for review or of approval by the New Jersey Department of Education. It is also cited that the importance of parental input, the importance of LEA's consultations with educators, families, and other members of the school commu school community in selecting and adopting curricula, as well as the ability of parents to opt out of instructional activities aligned with these standards. The New Jersey Department of Education stated that it does not review, approve, or actively endorse instructional materials such as sample lesson plans, textbooks, softwares, or videos in any content areas. Material adopt adoption is a

123local LEA decision based on the local curriculum development and review process. While locally adopted instructional materials should be aligned to the dis district district curriculum and the NJSL and be current, medically accurate, developmentally and age appropriate and developed and selected through a meaningful and ongoing consultation with the school school community including parents. Senator Vil Vin Gulpal is the chairperson of the Senate Education Committee who represents District 11 has taken notice of the confusion surrounding New Jerseys comprehensive health and physical learning standards. In a news release, he is he has announced plans to introduce legislation that would ensure parents and guardians are fully informed of the school curriculum on health and sex education. Provided the opportunity to review educational materials on the subject, allowed to meet with local school officials to get questions answered. and given

124the option to opt out if they when they meaning parents would rather teach uh health and sex education to their children instead of having the school do it. Um I highly recommend if you want to read about what's going on in this area and as well as all the other state standards, you go to www.nj.gov/education. >> Did you write that up? No, >> no. This is >> So, I didn't think so because that sounded like a lot of words to explain nothing and we're still trying to decide what we're doing. >> And I'm glad you asked. For the record, I go to the New Jersey School Board Association legislative section. Um, and um, the last few months it's been all these introduc introductions to new uh, regulations and stuff like that. really nothing was posted.

125The big focus was on this. So, um I figured um you know, I don't want to take something that would be pertaining to an uh urban school district, which we're not. >> Yeah. >> Um so, this is this was the big focal point. So, um I I will admit to the public I cut and paste, >> read it over and it's coming right. >> I agree. Right. I don't want I don't want to, you know, I don't want to um uh reward it. I want to tell you as the way the way I saw it. >> Well, perfect. Which sounds like they confuse it even more than >> you're you're you're up next. >> So, technology. Um >> did you write this up? >> So, I will say uh some of it Yeah. Some of

126it I'll thank um Dr. Annabbo for uh you know getting me some notes on this too. I wasn't able to attend the meeting in person, but uh I did we did talk. So um with regard to Chromebooks, uh they're working with administration for the collection of Chromebooks at the end of the year. So we've got a nice systematic way to get those. Um Claire talked about the website a little bit. So right now, uh it looks like tenatively the website is on track uh for an August 15th um release. We will have access to the other website until August 31st. So, we'll have a two week overlap, which will be good because that'll help work out some uh some things that we might have to work at with Blackboard uh as Rob goes through it.

127>> Um >> which we approved tonight on the agenda. Yes. >> So, it wasn't approved because >> it wasn't approved because it's going to be part of next year. >> Oh, okay. >> That's going to be problematic, but just Yeah. >> Okay. So the other the other the other piece of that is um you know as we look at this right and you you think about where we are from website perspective and what we need to do and and I know we're talking about administration and admin people I mean there is thought that you know maybe we need to think about what we need to do with somebody that's monitoring this website whether it's person maybe there's an external company maybe blackboard could do that but somehow um it takes time right and >> web

128master Yeah, web master it does it's involved like running a website and keeping it up to date is involved. So >> that's the key. It's going to be beautiful. It's going to be up to date on day one and by day two will be a little bit out of date. So I think it is important. I do have uh we'll discuss that personnel next month but adding a sitebended position of a web master of sorts. So uh >> so there was conversation in committee about this right in your in your committee >> right? Yeah, we want to we're investing >> probably more along the lines of a stipen for somebody that's there already than a person. Uh the other piece beyond the well as part of the website, you know, and again I know this

129why Barbara's saying it's problematic because can't do anything with it really until we get approved. Could potentially delay. I don't know. But um what we want what we want to do is have the parent sign off sheets on the web so they can sign off on all the documents they need to sign off on and then get the information on their class. Yeah. The class that they're going to the bus they're on. It's high school students. They get their schedule >> before they get their information. >> Correct. Okay. So they'll sign off on everything before they get that. That's the uh that's the goal. um still working um you know on multiffactor authentication for and really this is all about cyber security right so that's an important piece of uh what the what we're doing

130behind the scenes um and reviewing how that is uh reviewing operating systems making sure that we could constantly get the updates patches and so forth the phone system has um continued to to move forward um the phone system. >> Yeah. >> Well, we can't have a date until we approve a budget, >> right, Barbara? >> No, that's in last year's budget. >> Well, we have some money in this year. >> So, >> this year we um >> we don't have it to fully complete, right? >> Thank you. >> The uh the plan was to uh have the final recommendation to the board for approval in May. And we have um I know that there were um some preliminary uh options received for uh bids from Cisco, Zoom, AAA, and My Voy. So, uh I think

131that those are being reviewed. I don't know whether or not that we've looked at choosing one of those yet. So, um that's out there and that's where we're at. I think good options though. >> We You didn't pick a phone system yet. We don't have a company yet. >> I don't know, Barb. We don't have a company that's going to be applying. >> No, that we're looking at you said it was all about >> No, no, no. We didn't pick. So, right. Remember, they're doing all the preliminary work. >> Don't forget that voice systems today are not the kind that you're familiar with. they all are. It's a It's a It's a cloud-based um internetbased system. So, it's a little different. Um we had to make sure that we had the capability and our with

132our switches. And now we're looking at the type of equipment that would go along with each system. um if we you know using the type using a voice a voice IP um system you don't have to you know one of the goals we wanted was classroom phones >> and we would not be able to do that with hard wire because we'd have to pull higher wire into every classroom. So you have to do a wireless system. So, they're in the process of determining that we have enough um coverage with the wireless system and the that we can utilize it with the phones. So, there's >> an issue like with the cell phones in the building. >> No, it's internet. >> Okay. >> It's not just like a cell phone in your home. >> It's it's

133Wi-Fi. So, it's voice over internet. >> Two different two two different types of uh mechanism there. But the wire all I I mean whatever need the hardware stuff that had to be put in that part has been done right or no we're buying switches as we need everything is being evaluated and it's all going to be installed over the next few months. >> Okay. >> There's not it's not like we have to pull wire. We have to replace some fiber. Um, but it's not like we have to do a run to every location where there's going to be a phone because it's like your phone's at home. >> You plug them into a electron, you know, electrical outlet and you have what? Phones on every floor if you have phones at home. Sometimes you don't

134even have phones at home anymore. >> Yeah. I would say even some of these you can actually use on your cell phone as a second >> number, right? You can use Zoom and you can use >> Ring Central which is AAA and on your cell phone. >> You just forward it to your cell phone so that if you work from home >> that's great. >> Uh Municipal Alliance Mrs. Stevenson Mrs. Romeo >> Township where >> Oh, I'm sorry. Where we have a meeting on Friday um >> the 6th. >> Great. I'd like to ask a question about that meeting. Um, would it be possible for the school district in the town to talk about a grant writer? And I just had the idea this tonight while sitting here uh of also possibly a web master.

135Um, in my part as a liazison on the WMA, I was looking through the township website too and you know there's updates. You know, it's just two ideas of two positions that I personally see the school district and the township both need. Um, and would be helpful in many areas, web master and a grant writer. So, please could you discuss those? Maybe after the township. >> Sure. >> Barbara's taking notes. She can put it on the agenda. >> Shared services makes sense. >> West the alliance. Next. >> Thank you. Um the WMA uh there was a meeting on April 11th and um we had a great presentation by um uh the Heroes and Cool Kids adviser from the high school where we learned that there's 40 kids 40 or more kids in Heroes and Cool

136Kids. um they have high academic standing and basically they do a mentorship like role model peer program, peer leadership program to the fifth graders where they talk about difficult things like bullying and um vaping or drugs. Um and a lot of times they find that these are difficult discussions for the younger students to have. So they have them write down their questions on paper. Um and the older kids, you know, they have a whole program and uh so we had a presentation on that. Um just going through the agenda. Um membership they are looking for a PTA, PTO or PTSO representative for the WMA. Um and maybe some more student representation. Uh the next meeting is May 9th and it is a public meeting so all are invited to attend. Um there's an event coming

137up. The Scots Fun Run is May 22nd. um at the parks and recck center um to um fund, you know, help fund recovery for addiction. And um some miscellaneous things. There are some upcoming workshops. One is on April 28th at 11:00 a.m. from the Partnership for Drug-Free New Jersey. Uh and that's called Combating the Stigma of Opioid Addiction. That's on a Zoom. Um, there's another called Addressing the Stigma. What prevention practitioners need to know. That's on Thursday, June 9th from 10 to 11:00 a.m. And the last thing is just that all the WMA meetings are hybrid. So, um, like I said, the next meeting is May 9th. I'd love to have more attendees there. I'm sure it would really help the community. either at the library and there's always um an option to attend by

138Zoom. >> Thank you. >> Um >> time 7 p.m. >> Thank you. >> We will put the um request for PTA PTO representative on the round table agenda. >> Okay. >> Uh old business Courtney I'm trying to remember your name. >> It's my It's my name right here. No, it's it's No, I'm I'm having a senior moment. >> It's okay, Lynn. It's okay. >> Sorry. >> Um I just wanted to um bring up the fields again. Um I know we had talked about um going to the sports teams and talking with them. Um talking with the town council, um collaborating with parks and wreck. um I think would be a really great thing for the school districts. We obviously don't have money. Um but I think if at the township meeting um if it can

139be discussed it >> as well as um with parks and wreck that would really be fantastic. Um you know Kilgaw and Field I think really we need some help here. So I think joining forces would very much be appreciated. um the response from the boards from softball and football um have been they are more than willing to help out and work with everyone involved and to make this a collaborative um kind of thing. So >> I think is on the agenda just our last meeting because this is our first meeting. >> Great to hear. And that grant writer that could be something that >> on there too >> is worked out. Any old any other old business discussion? If not, I need a motion. >> Seeing none, I make a motion to close all business.

140>> Second. >> All those in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? >> New business. >> Courtney, >> I also have something quick. I >> No, she's I know she's used to >> That's cuz the name play was facing me. >> So, I um I noticed that um in the committee reports um a couple of us were absent, myself included. I did not go to municipal alliance. Um, and I'm just wondering what kind of schedule we could maybe have to make sure that if somebody's going to be absent, maybe they could reach out to another board member. Maybe we can do a text chain to each other just to make sure that even on the committee um meetings for parks and rack and technology um municipal alliance that there's always somebody represented. Well, I do know

141that there is an issue with the parks and wreck. They only accept the person who's >> assigned. Okay. >> Um, as far as the other committees, again, the reason that I have given I've asked Barbara to handle that is because >> I don't have that much time within my day to be doing all that all the time. >> Even just with us. >> So, right. But then keeping a list of who did it and who didn't so that I feel that going through Barbara is the best way so that everybody there'll be a chain of emails whatever everybody can find it. It won't be that you forgot to call me or I was the next one on the list. There is somebody that's taking care of it. As far as these these things if you

142want to put that on there you can. I I just you know if you we can't I have alternates on almost every committee except uh legislative and >> and well parks and wreck I can't I tried that and they would not let me do it. Go ahead Ray. >> So with parks and wreck I get you can only have the person but I am fairly certain parks and w meetings are public meetings >> from being on the parks and wreck. So, I think any of us >> would go and sit in a meeting and just take notes of what's going on as a as a township resident. >> And I'm not sure like parks and wreck would be any different than the WMA being that they are both township. >> I'm just saying that I

143know that I tried to I tried to have an alternate one year >> and they sent us a letter back telling me that I can't that they only accept the one name. That's all. again between three of us that have been on that committee. I think you can go. Anybody can show up. >> I I don't have any I don't Does anybody have a problem with somebody else going in and the public? You if you can go as a public, you can go. >> Maybe set could somebody say what the dates are because if you're not on that committee, I don't think you know like No. >> Well, I don't I don't know the dates, you know. >> Okay. Send it out. Okay. >> Any any other new business? Need a motion to close new

144business. >> Seeing none, I'd like to make a motion to close new business. >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> Okay. Public comment. This portion of the meeting is open to members of the public having a legitimate interest in the actions of the board for the purpose of addressing any subject matter pertaining to and I and directly related to the operation of the West Milford Public School District. Members of the public who have requested to speak prior to the meeting will be recognized by the 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 time period transpires. All speakers are asked to sign the register provided and give their

145full name, spell their last name, group affiliation if appropriate, and provide their address. Issues raised by members of the public may or may not want 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 asked 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. 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 comment made by members of the public. Members of the public should consider their comments in the light of the legal rights of

146those affected or identified in their comments. Members of the public are reminded that they are legally responsible and liable for their comments. Anyone wishing to speak from the public, our doing public? Uh, I need a motion to close. >> I'd like to public. >> Second. >> Okay. All those in favor? >> Any oppose? >> Mrs. Dwire. >> Okay. 9:24 p.m. I make a motion to go into executive session for the purpose of discussing personnel appointments, resignations, current litigation matters, special education matters, HIVs, negotiations, 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. And we will return >> for action. For action >> second will be 40 minutes. >> Second. >> Okay. Uh all those in favor >> I.

147>> Okay. >> We will return. I'd like to call the meeting back to order. Barbara, could you do roll call, please? >> Mrs. Romeo, >> yes. >> Mrs. Steve, >> here. >> Mrs. Stevenson >> here. >> Mr. Stillman >> here. >> Mrs. Dwire >> here. >> Mrs. O'Brien >> here. >> Mr. Go >> here. Mrs. Lockwood >> here. >> Mrs. Mr. Conklin >> here. >> Mrs. Van Dyk >> here. >> Harry, can you >> I'd like to move to approve um the HIP recommendations by our superintendent E3 as substantiated. 2022 E4 as substantiated, M11 is substantiated, 2022 M12 substantiated, and 2022 H8 substantiated. >> Second. >> Any discussion? Roll call. >> Mrs. Dwer, >> yes. >> Mrs. Stevenson, >> yes. >> Mr. Gino, >> yes. >> Mrs. Mrs. Lockwood, >> yes. >> Mrs. O'Brien, >>

148yes. >> Mr. Stillman, >> yes. >> Mrs. Romeo, >> yes. >> Mr. Conklin, >> yes. >> Mrs. Van Dyke, >> yes. >> At 9:50 p.m., I'd like to make a motion to adjurnn. >> All those in favor? >> Any opposed? Good night. would