001talk for a while. >> I'd like to call the meeting to order and uh if we could have a moment of silence and please remember all those in Ukraine and the things that are going on in our world today. M Mrs. um can I can I just add to that we lost an incredible retired teacher this this week uh Pat Sinski and I ask people for their good vibrations and prayers for her family. Um she was a very special woman. She was special ed and she loved our children. Absolutely loved them. So um I was hurt by that and I think the community should know that that she's gone. Thank you. >> Thank you, Terry. Moment of silence, please. >> Please rise for the flag. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United
002States 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 in the administration building. Copies of the board meeting calendar resolution were provided to all local media, town hall, township, library, and all district schools. Roll call. Mrs. Francisco. >> Mr. Stillman >> here. >> Mr. Conklin, you should be a little late. Mrs. Stevenson, >> here. >> Mrs. Dwer, >> here. >> Mr. Greeno, >> you also will be
003a little late. >> Mrs. O'Brien, >> here. >> Mrs. Lockwood >> here. >> Mrs. Romeo, >> yes. >> Mrs. Van Djk here. >> Okay. Would you mind doing at at 6:39 I move to go into executive session for approximately 30 minutes for the purpose of conducting one HIV parent appeal. The executive session minutes will not be released until such time as the privilege or confidentiality is no longer applicable. Second. >> All those in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? >> We will be uh in executive session for approximately a half hour. I'd like to call the meeting back to order. Um Mrs. Francisco, could you do roll call, please? Mr. Stillman here. Mrs. Stevenson >> here. >> Mr. Conlin >> here. >> Mrs. Dwer >> here. Mrs. O'Brien >> here. >> Mr. Gino >> here.
004>> Mrs. Lockwood >> here. >> Mrs. Romeo >> here. >> Mrs. Van Dyk >> here. >> Dr. Anam. >> Oh yes. Good evening everybody. Uh before we do our budget presentation, we do have some good news to share from one of our own. Uh Barbara Frantis, our business administrator, recently won an award from NJSBO. That's the New Jersey Association of School Business Officials. She is the recipient of the Distinguished Service Award uh statewide. So congratulations, Miss Francisco. This is the 2021 2022 award. She will be honored at a lunch in June at the Oceanceans Casino Resort in Atlantic City. >> Oh, that's nice. >> She gets a plaque. >> Not this one, an extra plaque, a personal check in the amount of $100. >> All right, >> which you can put on black for black
005and gold. And also, West Mover High School will a West Mover High School senior will receive a scholarship check in the amount of $1,000 on your behalf. >> I mean, it's split between two seniors, so I just have to >> two seniors, $500 each. We have some flowers on behalf of the board and your colleagues as well. >> Congratulations. >> Thank you, everyone. I appreciate it. >> And a nice plaque. >> Yes. Yes. camera. >> Yeah, we'll have a Twitter moment. How's that? [Music] >> Yes, we'll put you right in the middle. >> Very proud. >> Thank you. [Applause] You guys want to Terry? You guys want to move around? We have our budget presentation now. >> You want to spin around? Get a better look. >> Hey, buddy. There's plane chairs out there. All
006right. Good. Good evening everybody. Uh this is our preliminary budget hearing which is really the middle or getting close to the end of our budget process here. Um so right here we have members of our board of education. Thank you all for your work these past few months. helping us with this budget. Um, just to give you a background of the process, we've been working on this budget since right after Thanksgiving, we came back and we met with the administrators. They met with their staff and we came up with some budgets for each school and for each department. From there, we winnowed it down. We had to cut a lot out already. Then about two weeks ago, we received our state aid allocation. More on that in a few slides, but that was a final
007piece of the puzzle. So tonight we do our preliminary budget hearing. Uh we have this approved tonight and then we have another month or so, a little over a month to do our public hearing on the budget which will be the final budget. So we'll have five five weeks from tonight before we finalize our 2022 23 budget. In that five weeks, we'll have a board meeting next week. We'll have a committee meeting in April and then the public hearing in April as well. So the board and the community will have time to make comments on our budget, give suggestions as to the board. Okay. So despite what you've heard about inflation, our budget is going down this year uh by just uh onetenth of 1%. Uh which is incredible process. This is year five of
008a seven-year phase in of the new state funding formula. We refer to it as S2. Um each year brings additional cuts. Each year those cuts are more difficult to achieve because there's less to cut every year. So year one of seven we had to make some cuts but it wasn't that difficult because we were able to eat around the margins, cut the fat out of the budget, whatever metaphor you want to use. Right now there's no more fat. It's just muscle and bone. Every year it makes additional cuts more and more difficult. Um the budget is really not going to be sustainable for very much longer. uh because they're horrific on the statewide level and they impact us locally. >> Some curriculum highlights uh Mr. Novak. >> Um so the first one that I'd like
009to highlight um although we are, you know, sustaining some significant budget cuts, we are still able to move forward with with uh some of our lofty uh and ambitious goals. Uh one of those is the um you know enhancing our uh current dual enrollment program. uh in next year's program of studies, we uh we're going to be uh anticipating about an 80% increase in our offerings that we uh that we will have. In that regard, we've established new relationships with the Ravico University and Pay County Community College that we believe will continue to uh give us the opportunity to offer uh offer new programs. We're also looking into, we don't have them in our program of studies for next year, but by the end of next year, we anticipate an additional collaboration uh with uh
010Syracuse University and um some of the dual enrollment programs that they offer. Um so our new ones are, you know, Ramo PCC. Uh we've already had some longlasting relationships with Ryder, Satan, and uh FU. Um one of our other uh ambitious goals uh started this year. Um this is our conquer math which I've spoken in this room and in committee a few times which is uh mathematics training and best practice um implementation of the New Jersey student learning standards for math. Uh the grade levels that are involved now are third and fourth grade and our Makipin teachers of algebra. Next year's plan moves um moves forward quite a bit more where we'll be bringing in first grade second grade, fifth grade, geometry, and our remaining uh algebra 1 teachers. That would also include our algebra
011one teachers at the high school. Uh in addition to our special education resource center teachers and our uh encore basic skills support teachers. Uh so the current grade level will move forward into uh the current grades that are working with conquer math are going to move into year two of the process. um that like I said that's third fourth and and algebra and next year's group will begin begin year one along with that uh and you'll see in in the budget is um money put aside for uh summer curriculum writing summer planning uh summer planning where we can um you know take a look at what we're doing with conquer math and be able to implement it into our into our curriculum. One expense that's on the horizon that is not in the current budget
012that will hopefully be in next year's is taking a look at our replacement of the current math program which is Bill Math. We've spoken about it for many years. Um, we're at a place now with our Conquered Math groups to have a trained staff eye for when we look at potential new programs that we have staff who are able to look at New Jersey student learning standards, current standards, and uh help us make the best choice for the math program that we're looking to uh looking to move going going forward. So, uh, next year we're anticipating piloting a few programs and then the following year probably looking for a um a replacement of our K5 program in stages. So, something to worry about uh next year, but but the groundwork for that is is being
013laid now through the training. Um, English language arts, we're always um always looking to improve. Uh we've talked a lot over the years about the five-year plan for implementing um balance literacy. The pandemic led to some changes to years four and five in that plan. Uh so we are in the process of reviewing what we've accomplished in the last seven or six or seven years that extended our five-year goal and and taking a look at things that we need based on where we're at. Uh now, for example, we've had um tremendous turnover in the Mackaban school program in our ELA department and um you know, we're refocusing some of our training goals for next year and and resources to address that uh trans address that transition um that's currently in place. Uh our knowing science
014program, we began that last year. Going into next year, we are implementing the final phase of bringing in the complete knowing science program and that will be um moving forward with the STEM and space uh units as well as looking at um replenishment materials. So each of these kits with with having um hands-on materials, these are things that get used that we have to replace. So that's part of a science program forever. You know, each year you have to to move to replenishment. So, uh, after this year and and next year's budget, we should be at that maintenance stage of just replacing some of the the, you know, the things that you need to to run those, uh, run those programs, whether it's earthworms or best beetles or baking soda or popsicle sticks. So, you
015know, those things are are perishable and and living that we need to replace. um social studies. We are in the process of um working in our curriculum to adjust to uh new standards and make sure that we are compliant and everything that is being changed in our social studies standards for next year. Um moving on to the uh next slide, we are also in the process of aligning our standards to the new comprehensive health and physical education standards. That's a process that's ongoing. younger staff are um receiving training and then we'll be able to present and talk about that a little bit more later in the spring. Um in our music and art department, we are again there's a lot of revisions going on in New Jersey student learning standards. So you'll see um you
016know budgeted items in terms of curriculum review, staff committee, that sort of thing. Uh also, you know, an exciting headline is that we are um looking to host our first uh band competition next year. That's something we started the planning for uh earlier earlier this past winter and we are anticipating um hosting our first band competition with all of our new facilities that you that you've helped support. So, you know, that was one of the goals, I think, when we started talking about turf and and the bleachers and and all of the fieldhouse and all those those great things that we have up in our complex. Uh, hosting a band competition to showcase our our tremendous um, you know, marching band and and and music program, you know, is the is the the great next
017step in that. Um, industrial arts. One of the exciting thing this kind of goes with our with the first bullet point uh in regard to dual enrollment is that our automotive program is going to be um also part of the dual enrollment process and our students will be graduating with a um with a certificate uh from the uh ASSE uh AS program. Thank you. So, so back to some budget basics. That's the good news with Mr. Novak's report. Our budget, as you can see in your book, is split into two halves. Revenues, expenses, and they have to balance. The problem is revenues are declining. Most real estate aid, the expenses are rising. You see every day everything costs more every year. Salaries, benefits, uh, utilities, you name it. It costs more next year than it
018costs now. It costs more now than it did last year. So, uh, expenses always go up and usually revenues do too, but when you're having a a major reduction in state aid, that's not the case. So, our local tax levy is capped by the state at 2%. Our state aid uh was cut dramatically this year, almost 2.1 million, and our fund balance, our some of our reserves, that is very sharply declined. Our expenses are going up at a much greater rate than revenues. So, the state aid reductions, this is year five of a seven-year phase in uh this is the cumulative effect. It's just under $8 million now in five years that we've had a boost in state aid. Um, which is, you know, may not be a lot in a district that has a
019$500 million budget. When you have a $75 million budget, it's more than 10% of your budget. All right. Pretty dramatic reduction. And as you can see here, there's still two more years left. We're going to have to recalibrate the y-axis next year for sure because that will be over 10 million. Uh today the percentage of our budget we're right here now we're under 10%. Few years ago it was over 25%. So the state used to fund over a quarter of our budget. And this isn't the ancient old days. This is 2009. So that's not going back to the 80s. That's going back just a little over a decade. So it used to be a quarter. Now it's less than 10%. So the difference has to be plugged in from somewhere. Most notably, we have to
020make um the local tax. Everybody wants to know what the taxes are. Uh the tax cap levy is 2%. But not 2% of your total budget is 2% of your taxes. So in West Milford, approximately 80% of our revenues are from taxes. So when you increase that by 2% you don't increase your budget by 2%. You only increase it by 2 * 80% though 1.6% or approximately 1 million. You recall from a few slides ago our state was cut 2.1 million. There's a 1 million gap right there. And that doesn't even factor in the cost of in the cost increases of every other budget line. The board, however, despite these uh massive state aid cuts, has done a great job of controlling taxes over the last 11 years, our taxes have averaged uh just under
0211.6% 1.58 1.58% increase over the last 11 years. It's at 2% uh this year and last as well. So, this preliminary budget right now, this is our tax levy, and you can see a 2% increase there. Our general fund is down just under $70,000 which is onetenth of what our revenues. This is where we get our money from. We see a lot of red here. You see a massive increase in here. Uh Miss Francisco, can you touch on this line right here? Fund balance went from 3 million to 4 million. >> Sure. Um every year um after our audit and next week uh our auditors will be here to present the June 30th um 21 audit. um any um we're allowed to keep a 2% of our our current expenses as a fund balance which
022is basically a bank account for any emergencies and uh anything over that 2% uh including any allowable uh increases or adjustments um is considered excess fund balance. So, um, normally, um, we would have an excess fund balance. Last year in the, uh, 2122 budget on June 30th of 2020, um, they identified $2.9 million as excess fund balance. If you recall, that was the last quarter was the pandemic and everything kind of came to a halt and there were a lot of um, expenses that we didn't incur. So that increased the amount of uh fund balance that we had um for the um 21 20 2122 school year, no 2021 school year, the state determined that since there were um a lot of uh federal money that came down that was helping uh school districts uh
023with some of their expenses, es that were incurred due to virtual learning. Uh some um mental health um accommodations that you needed for students that were having difficulties. Uh some learning acceleration or remediation that was necessary. The state allowed us to keep 4% of our tax levy um of our our um our current expense as a fund balance as opposed to 2%. So, when you look at that $4 million, we're also uh we're dipping into that additional 2%. To try to balance the budget, um we um unfortunately, you've heard me talk through the years that budgeted thumb balance should be used for one-time expenses because you never know if you're going to have it again the following year. Unfortunately, this time we're using that $4 million to support our current expense budget. So, basically, we
024know that we're not going to have $4 million on uh June 30th of 2022 to plug into the next budget of 2324. So, there's um some serious deficits that we're going to be be dealing with. Um, when we get to the expenses, um, there have been things that I've used to offset, uh, some of the costs that we have, but they're one time, um, adjustments that we're not going to experience going forward in 23 24. So, um, we've done the best we could to, um, maintain the current programs that we have. um to um reduce expenses um where we think it's going to have the least amount of effect on students because that's why we're here. But um it's as Dr. Anon said, um it we won't be able to sustain this going forward. Um
025so if you have any questions, I'll be happy to answer them. So if you kind of look ahead a whole year, this category here will be the in here next year the difference between 4 million, you know, here and here is going to be a pretty big drop off. There'll be a reduction in revenues perhaps equal to a reduction in state aid which we're anticipating for next year as well. So this could be a uh we have to get some significant that's made a lot of cuts for 23 24. Okay. So, like you said, this is a fiveyear, right? We were in five year of seven. >> Five of seven. Yes. >> Is there a way to take these and and I know we have board books from previous years and we can kind of
026put it together, but do you have this like on a spreadsheet where we can see this same >> chart? >> Well, I mean, so this can be on one sheet so you can see 1819, 1920, 20 >> as far as the state reductions. Um, as for this chart right here, expenses, I can put up this kind of >> I can put up this slide for each of the last >> five years. >> Mhm. >> Yeah. I mean, it would be good just to have that just to see it all next to each other. It would be good. >> So, like like the chart you had before, if you go back one >> uh two Yeah. Yeah. Like see how we we see what our tax and then you go back again and you see how
027they've taken away aid >> over the years. >> Yeah. >> That for you. >> So it would be good to see these numbers and see how it it's it's gone over the years. >> It'll be one one year leads into the next kind. The uh the longitudinal change over time. Mo most of the time um our our some of our revenues are pretty static >> um when I deter there's there's not much of a deviation between our tuition revenues, our transportation revenues, right? um miscellaneous revenues. And uh the miscellaneous re revenues actually took a hit for the two years that we dealt with with the pandemic because um a lot of that revenue comes uh at the end of the school year when we rent out our auditorium for uh different programs. But um so
028um and you recall that usually in June we try to um use our anticipated um surpluses to fund our maintenance and capital reserve accounts and um that's going to um be seriously impacted um going forward. I mean, I I think I think what the board needs and I'm sure they do, this can't be this is unsustainable next year because there's not going to be $4 million in the fund balance to move over to offset anything. So, at some point, there's going to be some there has to be some conversation about some major changes. We usually start with the budget in the fall. We're probably going to have to start like this spring or the following year. So, this is going to be a a major project, a major, >> and this has to be approved
029yet by the county. Correct. >> Yes, that's the other thing. Um, I'm I'm hoping that the county office will approve the use of the $4 million in fund balance. Um I it's my understanding that the June 22 audit will also allow us to maintain a 4% but we're not going to have anything close to 4%. So far there's no indication that that 4% is going to be a permanent uh fixture. Um many many years ago we were allowed to keep 6% of our fund balance but then again the budgets were much smaller at that point in time and we didn't have capital reserve accounts then. So now that you have other reserve accounts that you can um use to um anticipate changes in your um your your your facilities that you want to make so
030that um you can utilize that those reserve accounts to do major projects um without going out for referendum or to supplement your referendum to deal with your local costs that you need. So um >> the expenses as to where the money is going to be spent for the next year uh by our projection >> and the tax levy impact on our median assessed home which is 242,300 is $9844 per year or $820 per month. So um still a manageable amount we believe is despite the loss of state aid and with all our cuts. This is our local tax lech to the median household. If your house is assessed at more than that your tax increase will be greater. If your house is assessed at a lower number your tax increase will be smaller. Tax increase
031about 2%. Capital projects. Uh, we do have some capital projects in I'm sorry. >> Did you pull up the general fund expenses? >> So, what's right just the big numbers like what's the capital outlay of a reduction of 42% roughly? >> What are the big numbers in there and and that in that 440,000 that were the change? Okay. So numbers last year last year in 21-22 we used more of our our capital reserve to um fund capital projects. Um this current year um our capital reserve is much smaller. um so that um we weren't able to put as much money into it nor um and all the capital reserve projects have to be um designated out of our long range facility plan. So, um, we looked at the plan and we took smaller projects that,
032um, we felt we wanted to keep up with the asbestous abatement. Um, and we wanted to finish out the the phone system. So, uh, we're just about at the point where we're ready to implement the infrastructure that was part of this budget and, um, we'll be able to to put everything together and hopefully have it on online for September, the new phone system, uh, including all the equipment and software. So, um, we're looking at, um, some projects that we haven't closed out yet. then will and that money will drop. Some of that money was capital reserve money. Um example, last year we talked about a MACM well replacing the well. Well, it turns out that we were able to um circumvent actually digging and replacing the well. We were able to to do some other
033things. Uh we had set aside $150,000 for that project and we used about 50,000. So the balance will go back into the capital reserve account. So, we're looking for ways to um to beef up the uh reserve account again so that we can um take a look at our our long range facility PL plan. Either utilize the money for some other projects that are in there or add other projects that are things that the board wants to see done that we didn't put in. Um and utilize that money for those things. Yeah, I again I just want to make sure that we're we're not sacrificing the future because we don't do projects like we know the phone project is, you know, that was put off before probably a lot of us maybe all >> you
034know that phone was on life support when I got here 11 and a half years ago, >> right? >> Um and uh we're we really are having a hard time getting parts to um >> replace some of the things that are going wrong. So, um, that's that's critical. Um, and I guess in some ways it's best that we we waited this long because there've been so many improvements made in technology. So, >> but that is not a project that's coming off the table. >> Oh, that's Dan, you said, right? >> The phone project is getting completed. >> Yeah, it will be completed. Um but I think the point of the conversation was um you know we we used to have um money set aside that we we used to use our fund balance for those
035oneshot projects and and that's not happening anymore. We're just barely funding the things that we we uh that are critical that have been identified as critical and we're using capital reserve to do that. >> Thanks Barbara. You're welcome. >> All right. Capital projects here. Obviously the phone system. We have some ongoing maintenance that we just can't not do. You know, we just can't stop that asbestous. We have some needed science equipment at Makipin. A water remeleation uh plantin and the gravel field which is adjacent to McCormack Field of Mapin is budgeted to be paid as well. So, proposed cuts. This is what's in this budget or what's not in this budget, I should say. Uh, we have cuts across the board here. We just gave you some broad categories. Uh, club supplies, athletics, professional development,
036and some hours, which are more broad categories. For elementary, there's great teaching positions on Marshall Hill. This is next year's grade one. So, current grade kindergarten is three sections and we'll go to two first grade sections next year. West Brook current grade one has three sections. That'll go to two second grade sessions next year. And Maple Road three now will be grade four. It will go from two to one session. >> So just to be clear, that's 24 first graders and one class. >> Yeah. >> Although I do believe there are goods who may get pulled out for admission. So it might be a lower number than that. Uh there might be 24 in the class picture, but in math or English, it could be fewer than that. >> And then at West first graders
037and 47, >> correct? >> So again, like 24 uh cafeteria aids, uh we have, you know, that one per elementary school. Uh we're going to be going out from 5 to 4. Uh we were at five for the longest time. We lost the sixth graders out of the elementary school. We never cut that position. Uh we feel as though we can now go down to four per elementary school in theory. Two in the cafeteria, two on the black top and so on and so forth. So it does work out there. At the high school, uh we have a secretarial position that is now vacant. Uh we may not replace that. We have one ELA and one mass piece here. Also open one position being cut. We have a large a good amount of classes that
038we feel we can collapse sections without really uh impacting our instructional program with the high school. Uh special education uh 1.0 teacher that's attending IE meetings which are ongoing throughout the spring and we do have some cuts in transportation as well. Most notably we have uh three runs to the state county tech institute which are picked up at the door. Now we can go to more um >> centralized stops in town. So each route will have uh centralized stops on it. So it could be at um lady queen of peace. It could be at could be at town hall. It could be at a actual school. It'll be different stops. So we'll centralize the routes of time kids are on the bus. It also reduces cost for us. So we're trying to spread it out.
039Next steps we are going to get keep looking at our budget estimates and see if we can cut anywhere else. Look for ways to economize and again we'll have three more opportunities for the board either as a group or in committee to discuss the budget board meeting next week uh committee meeting in April and that public hearing on the budget. That's the broad timeline. Once it gets approved tonight, we'll send it down to the county office for approval and then we'll we can advertise it for April. Do I have any questions? Yes, I do. I think what we need to do is probably go around and give everybody an opportunity if they have questions. And I think we need to remember also that this is the uh preliminary budget. This is not the one that's
040set in stone. It's just to get it approved and there are other ways of tweaking it and that's why the discussion needs to be happening. Uh Kate, you said you have a have something. >> Yes. Um, I'd like to request to see the high school class sizes. >> I know that last year we could a social studies teacher >> in which subjects or >> all. All >> I want to I want to packet all class sizes. Yeah. Okay. >> Current. >> Um, >> that would go out to everyone. >> Sure. >> Of course. When I ask for anything, I expect that everyone would get it. Just so everyone knows that I'm not ever asking for anything just for me. >> I just want to make sure that it reflects that everyone's getting it. >> Of
041course. >> Is there something else? >> Yeah. The other thing's harder to say. One of the reasons last year why I was so comfortable with the budget was I remember specifically and without quoting Alex, I remember him saying it was fair and I really felt after that first presentation that it was fair and I'm feeling uneasy right now and I would like to just say um please go back and look also for administrative cuts. I see 13 people on this page that interact with our children every single day and I don't see any cuts from any administrative offices where people are behind a desk and I know that that's harder to do for administration but I am requesting that that be looked at. >> Thank you. >> Anyone else have comments or questions? I I
042I would like to say I appreciate the time that was put in into this budget and I know that this was a very difficult budget and for most of the members sitting around this table, this is probably the first time that you've looked at a budget where so many things have had to be cut. Um I have experienced it through the years. I I will say that years ago it it never there were a lot of unp prettyity budgets and this is a very tough pill to swallow as board members because we don't want to take anything away from anyone. Um, I think that the administration I really will appreciate any of your input and that we do have to keep looking at it, but I do think that we have to always keep in
043the back of the mind back of our mind that next year we're still on that seven-year plan. And the governor has not been friendly to West Milford or actually right now from what I read there's 200 districts in the state who are very upset with the governor. So and and if we can do anything to make that better. I am in conversations with some people who are in Sussex that are trying that are having issues too and I'm hoping that somehow we will get letters together as a group and and you know move forward with that. Unfortunately, the way the governor the way things are done here in the state, we don't get those numbers until last minute. So there and that's probably so that we can't plan ahead to try and see how we
044can fix it. But I do appreciate the input and I I I think we this is a living document and we're going to have to keep moving forward. Harry, you have something? >> Um, I have to agree with Kate. Um, I do believe that we have to look at administration. We can't, you know, we see who are the people behind the desk, how are they interacting with the children, how effective are some of them? And I really agree with her. I mean, I will vote for this budget, but I'm hoping that Dr. Anamone, you will go back and look at administration and consider possible cuts there. Thank you, >> Courtney. >> I agree also with what Kate and Terry have to say. Um, I also think that it needs to be said publicly that PCTI
045did get $14 million in their state aid. And I think we really need to talk and get something going with our government officials that we should not be paying tuition for PCI students anymore. I understand it's with taxes and all of that, but >> I think that we really need to push our uh government officials to see that bigger picture and that we are really getting hurt um as a district as are others with what um is happening there. I I totally agree with you. I think that I I I think we need to separate something here, though. We're upset because PCTI received funding and that we're paying a tuition. It is not something against Pay County Tech. And sometimes I think it gets kind of lost in our conversation because we're we're it's a
046wonderful school and it's a great opportunity >> for our our our children that live here that it meets their needs. It's how they're funded that's our problem. The fact that we're be we're paying twice. So, I think that that's a really important issue. I unfortunately we're not alone in that which I did not know until I met with some representatives that that's how it works and it's double dipping you know and it's it's unfortunate when we're paying taxes and we're being charged and we're not getting even if we're paying for it and we got the credit for the that person being on our enrollment would help us in in in our funding picture. So I do believe that there needs to be some you know we have to reach out to to our representatives and
047we are we are trying that I mean we have tried in the past and I'm you know um but it's definitely something that I think the conversation needs to be uh started again >> because um it just it's it's it's very unfair uh even the formula itself is is unfair >> and um even >> formula that no one knows And even even the even the ones that are on on the on the the black side of it, you know, that are getting all the money will admit the fact that it's an unfair formula >> because um somehow they don't even know what to do with their money because they have so much. >> So, um we definitely do have to start that conversation again. And um and I think it's interesting too that some school
048districts that have been the recipients of some additional state aid are now getting um it's almost like uh being handed the money with one hand and they're it's being taken away with the other one because the chapter 44 impact is starting to show itself. So even though they're getting additional state aid, they're being penalized because of chapter 44. Uh and it's reducing their tax levies. So um it's an interesting it's an interesting thing that's happening right now in the state of New Jersey is a lot of smoke and mirrors. He says a lot of things um coming out of Trenton, but the reality is is quite different and the impact is quite different than what he's uh he'd like to believe. anyone. >> Um I have actually thought about this and and forgot to mention
049it, but I am willing to go to a PCTI board meeting if people want to go. Um I think they might be during the day, but I have an upcoming spring break. I don't know if that would work. Um but as a board together, we can write a speech or however, right? I mean, we can go there. We can petition to PCTI board of ed. And heck, I I don't think it's going to hurt us to go there. you know, I don't think any of us have attended in at least my time on this board. I think that that's something that >> maybe we could look into. >> I I can also say Barbara, you have reached out and she's >> and I think Dr. Yeah. I don't want this to fall by the way.
050>> Yeah. No, I just mean like board members to board members like we can go there and tell them they are one school. >> Yes. >> They are one high school. >> Yeah. But their their board represents the districts that like I I believe the people who are on their board >> they have the same number of students in their whole school as we do in our whole district. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> And I think I think that their board also has a representative from the communities that are in their in their school. Is that where they're appointed? >> I think it's just the superintendent. >> Oh. Oh. Okay. >> I would say county superintendent, right? Who is on their board? >> Dr. Anamon should I >> I think it's the county commissioners. >>
051Yeah. >> Yes. I believe they're on the board and I do believe they meet during the day. >> Okay. So, Ed services has a superintendent. >> Yeah, there's two different entities there. >> So, I have a job. I have to work during the day, but I am willing to help write a speech if someone else is willing to go whenever the meetings are and to speak to their board in public comment. I think that that can't hurt us. Well, I think we need to look forward and and I I appreciate that you're willing to do that and that would be wonderful, but we have to we we need to talk too and see who can go and how and when they meet and to have a discussion. I I I would love to have a
052meeting with our county commissioners. Go ahead. >> And I wouldn't mind reading it. I I am have more free time now than ever before. >> So, I have no problem. >> And you are legislative this now. So that would be wonderful. I I I would have no problem in I think I Is there anybody that has a problem with >> No, I think that's great. >> Okay. Okay. Well, maybe we should we'll we'll talk further about it. How's that? >> Perfect. >> Thank you. >> Anyone else have anything? Kate, >> um a couple other comments. Uh I am really really happy to see that there's nothing um like mental healthwise or stuff cut. So thank you for being cognizant of I think that's an area if we had more money that needs more services and
053I understand that that's you know where we are but thank you. I know a lot of time went into this and it's not easy. Um it's just always upsetting to sit on the side and see any cuts. You know I know all of us feel that. Um, the other thing I want to say is that on the cuts it does say utilities. Uh, and I know that we don't know what that is yet. Um, and I know the last board meeting we talked about a utilization study and at least four members of the board was saying that they would be in agreement with that. So, I'd like to still talk about that. Um, that was it. Thank you. >> Anyone else? Okay. Dr. Anamon, that ends your report. >> Yes, it does. >> Okay. So,
054we're going into uh public comment now. This portion of the meeting is open to the 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 this meeting will be recognized by the chair first. Each speaker will be given five minutes for a period of 30 minutes. Then time permitting other public t 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 to give their full name, spell their last name, group affiliation if appropriate, and provide their address. Issues raised by members of the
055public may or may not be responded to by the board. All comments will be considered and a response will be forthcoming if and when appropriate. The board asks that the members of the public be courteous and respectful of the rights of other individuals when speaking. specifically regarding specifically comments regarding students and employees of the board are discouraged and the board and the administration will not respond to them. Students and employees have specific legal rights afforded to them by the laws of New Jersey. The board is not responsible and is not liable for any comments made by members of the public. Members of the public should consider their comments in the light of the legal rights of those affected or identified in their comments. Members of the public are reminded that they are legally responsible and
056liable for their comments. Is anybody There's no one here. So I >> none I make a motion to close public comments. >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> Any opposed? >> All right. Just a couple of quick amendments uh before we adopt the agenda. On page three, education resolution number one. We're going to pull that, add it to next Tuesday's agenda. That's the 29th, uh the district nursing services plan. It says document documentation provided. We did not have a chance to upload it to the board members page uh today. We had planned on doing so. We did not get to it. So, uh wouldn't be fair to vote on it tonight. It's also not in your board packet. We'll get you a copy of that and we'll add it to the agenda next week.
057So that will be pulled education number one and also personnel. We're going to pull personnel resolutions three, four, and five. That's on the very next page, page four. So let's pull resolutions personnel student affairs 3, four, and five from this agenda. >> Okay, that's it. >> Next question. >> Yes, go ahead. three, four, and five. Will they go to next week or >> We'll have to get back to you. I'm not sure. >> Okay. >> You have two of them on there that go through the end of March. That's why I was asking. >> Correct. >> Yeah. >> All right. So, we need So, I need a I need a motion and a second to adopt the agenda as revised. >> I move to adopt the agenda as revised. >> Second. All those in favor?
058>> I. >> Any opposed? Okay. Um that one will be at the end of the meeting. Personnel student affairs Mina. >> Okay. >> And then one. >> Okay. So, personnel >> Mike. Oh, >> I know. I'm just checking the >> the numbers now. So, in uh on personnel, make a motion to approve items one, two, and six through I think it's 13, right? >> Mhm. >> 13. >> Second. >> Any discussion? Morning. >> I think number 12 is amazing. I just have to point it out. Those are children. That's awesome. >> Congratulations to those kids >> and also what they're learning because it's a it's a great great field to go into. Any other discussion? If not, roll call. >> Mr. Garino, >> yes. >> Mrs. Romeo, >> yes. >> Mrs. Stevenson, >> yes. >>
059Mr. Conklin, >> yes. >> Mrs. O'Brien, >> yes. Mrs. Lockwood, >> yes. >> Mr. Stillman, >> yes. >> Mrs. Dwire, >> yes, but no on number seven. >> Mrs. Van Dyke, >> yes. And no on number seven. Also, operations and finance. Mr. Stillman, >> you're the big one. One, two, three. One, two, three. >> I think you probably should move them separately. >> Yes. >> Yeah. >> Item one. >> Move item one. >> Need a second. >> Discussion roll call. >> Mr. Silman. >> Yes. >> Mr. Yes. >> Mrs. Stevenson. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Romeo. >> Yes. >> Mrs. O'Brien. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Dwer. >> Yes. >> Mr. Conklin. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Lockwood. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Van Djk. >> Yes. >> Move number two. >> Second. >> Uh discussion. This is our
060budget vote and again this is the preliminary budget so there will be time to discuss it again next week and then there is our April meetings that will come up. >> Thank you for reading my mind. >> Oh when is the preliminary budget get sent? >> It's re it's got to >> has to be down the county by Monday. >> Monday. Yeah. Any discussion? All right. Roll call. >> Mr. Silman. >> Yes. >> Mr. Greeno. >> Can >> you come back to me? >> Mrs. Stevenson? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Romeo? >> Yes. >> Mrs. O'Brien? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Lockwood? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Dwire? >> Yes. >> Mr. Conklin? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Van Djk? >> Yes. >> Mr. Gino? Yes. >> Okay. >> Move item three. >> Second >> discussion. Mrs. Francisco, I
061want to thank you for getting that price for those buses. >> Is that or is that for both? >> Um, it was No, it was 18 >> 18,000 each. >> Yeah. >> It's called supply and demand. Well, thankfully we had a supply to give them and we were able to reach basic economic theory. >> So, >> thank you and thanks for reaching out that the way it worked out. Any other discussion? >> Ro. >> Mr. Stillman. >> Yes. >> Mr. Gino, >> yes. >> Mrs. Stevenson, >> yes. >> Mrs. Romeo, >> yes. >> Mrs. O'Brien, >> yes. >> Mrs. Lockwood, >> yes. >> Mrs. Dwer, >> yes. >> Mr. Conklin, >> yes. >> Mrs. Van Djk. >> Yes. Okay. Public comment. This portion of the meeting is open to members of the public having a
062legitimate interest in the actions of the board for the purpose of addressing any subject matter pertinent to andor directly related to the operation of the West Milford public dis uh 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. 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 full name, spell their last name, group affiliation if appropriate, and provide their address. Issues raised by members of the public may or may not be responded to by the board. All comments will be considered and a response
063will be forthcoming if and when appropriate. The board asks that the members that members of the public be courteous and respectful of the rights of other individuals when speaking. Specifically, comments regarding students and employees of the board are discouraged and the board and the administration will not respond to them. Students and employees have specific legal rights afforded to them by the laws of New Jersey. The board is not responsible and is not liable for any comments made by members of the public. Members of the public should consider their comments in the light of the legal rights of those affected or identified in their comments. Members of the public are reminded that they are legally responsible and liable for their comment. Still no public. So I think I need a motion. >> Make a motion close.
064>> Second. >> All those in favor. Any opposed? Okay. We're going to need we're going to need a motion to go into executive session for um I'll make a motion at 8:10 to go into executive session for the purpose of discussing personnel appointments, resignations, current litigation matters, negotiations, bids, 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. >> No, >> we have to add we have to take >> we have to take some current litigation matters negotiations hibs and matters in training plan. There are personal >> we just need to figure out how long it's going to take. >> Um >> I think we better do 45 minutes. We will be coming back to take action. >> So
065we should be back in 45 minutes. >> I need all those in favor >> opposed. Okay. >> I'd like to call the meeting back to order. Uh, Barbara, could you do roll call, please? >> Mrs. Romeo >> here. >> Mrs. Lockwood >> here. >> Mrs. Stevenson >> here. >> Mrs. Dwer >> here. >> Mr. Stillman >> here. >> Mr. Greeno >> here. >> Mr. Conklin >> here. >> Mrs. O'Brien >> here. >> And Mrs. Van Dyk >> here. >> Mrs. Dwire. >> Will it do this? Yeah. I'd like to move uh to approve the following agenda item and I'm going to read the whole resolution because there's two parts to it. The recommendation of the superintendent to approve the following resolution. Whereas in accordance with the requirements set forth in PL2010 chapter 122, the West
066Milford Board of Education has received results of HIP investigative reports on March 22nd, 2022. Therefore, be it resolved that the West Milford Board of Education approves issuance of written decisions affirming, rejecting, or modifying the superintendent's determination in the following HIV investigations. Incident report 2022 M9 unsubstantiated 2022H6 substantiated 2022H7 substantiated and be it refer resolved that after hearing before the board the board has determined to reject decision in 2022 H5 as it applies to student number 68538. Second discussion. >> If not, roll call, please. >> Mrs. >> Yes. >> Mr. Gino. >> Yes. on the uh first three abstain from that last one. That was it in that meeting. >> Mrs. Lockwood, >> yes. >> Mr. O'Brien, >> yes. >> Mr. Stillman, >> yes. >> Mrs. Romeo, >> yes. >> Mr. Conklin, >> yes. >> Mrs.
067Van Dyk, >> yes. >> I need a motion. >> Motion to adjurnn. >> Second. All three in favor. >> I Good night.