001Welcome to the January 25th meeting of the West Milk Board of Education. At this time, please silence all your cell phones, check the exit signs, and please take a moment of silence for our children, their parents, and our military and police officers. Please stand for the pledge to >> 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. >> Okay. In accordance with the provisions of the open public meetings act, a public notice of this meeting has been sent to board members, all district schools, the Herald News, the suburban trends, the record, the messenger, West Milford town hall, the county superintendent's office, the board attorney, cable vision of Warwick, and West Milford television 77
002and posted in the administration building. Copies of the board meeting calendar resolution were provided to all local media, town hall, township library, and all district schools. Barbara, can we have roll call, please? Mr. Romeo >> here. >> Mrs. Stevenson, >> here. >> Mr. Conlin, >> here. >> Mrs. Drier, >> here. >> Mr. Gino, >> Mrs. O'Brien, >> she might be late. >> Mrs. O'Brien, >> excuse. >> Mrs. Lockwood >> here. >> Mr. Stillman >> excused. >> Mrs. Van Dyke >> excused. >> Okay. Superintendent report please. >> Yes. Good evening everybody. Welcome to our January meeting. A brief update tonight. Uh didn't even make the agenda that earlier today we received notice from the uh National Schools of Character Foundation that two of our schools, Upper Greenwood Lake School and Maple Road School were named schools
003of character. Once again, they were previously both schools of character for I believe it's a term of 3 years and their tenure just ended last June 30th. So, they reapplied and both were named schools of character earlier today. Um, the reason our other schools are not on the list is because their three-year cycle is off. Not all the schools applied the same year. So, the cycle is off. So, congratulations to Dr. Natlo and Mr. all the faculty, teachers and staff of both schools and most of all our students at Upper Gwood Lake and Maple Road because that's a big part of the puzzle. We would not be a school of character without wonderful student body. So congratulations to both school communities. >> May I add something? Um I would like to to thank Mr. Novak
004for um encouraging our schools to participate in this because without his encouragement we would have never known about the schools of character. So Mr. Novak thank you. I'll pick on you later but >> you always say Mr. Novak's character knew that's what we meant. >> School of characters. >> And next we have our co update. So we alluded to this last week. We hinted that we have some good news on the on the horizon and we did pull our CO numbers for the last two weeks. Just to give you an update, we know we hit that omccrron wave in late December, early January that hit us the first two weeks of the school year. And just comparing January 5th to January 19th, our student absences for any reason went down 60% over 60%. and our
005staff absences for any reason quarantine and otherwise went down over 45%. On Jan on Friday, January 6th, we reported 231 cases if you recall. Now, that was just over a week's period. It was like a week and a half. It was the last half of winter break plus the first week of school. And then this past Friday, January 21st, we reported 21. So, it was about a 90% drop in that short time. So if you've seen any graphs online over the past couple of days, you've noticed that ocron spike which was straight up and then straight down. That's what we observed here. So we're uh very confident as we end semester 1 in our high school in Makipin head into the second half of our school year. We're looking forward to getting through this pandemic
006and continuing with our return to normal. And our student update, Miss Weiss. >> Hello everyone. I hope everyone had a great holiday break. At the high school, we are starting the year off strong. Today, some of our students finished the seals by literacy test. Also, next month, students will be able to retake the ads up. Our junior prom is set for March 25th at Kasa Bianca and our senior prom is being worked out right now. The spring musical of Anastasia will be held March 10th through the 13th. We are so excited to see this show as the last spring musical two years ago was cut short. Our students have been working extremely hard after school and it's going to be a really good performance. Our winter sports are working really hard in the middle of
007their season. Our boys varsity basketball team just had a really exciting win against Lakeland in the last couple seconds of the game. Our girls varsity basketball team is on a nice winning streak with a record of six and seven. Our unified basketball team just had their first game against Memphis this weekend. They had a tough loss with the teamwork on the court trying our ice hockey team is stepping up with a nice 4 nothing victory over Clifton last week. Our goals and boys bowling teams are having an outstanding season with the boys having a record of seven and three and girls having four and four. Our unified bowling team has their first big match coming up tomorrow. Our wrestlers competed in the P County coaches tournament this weekend and we had a first place win
008by Ben Marcto, a second place win by Coler and a third place win by Nick Kle. And the girls saber team for winning the gold and going to state as a team. Delaney Brown won the individual gold head having the states with a seven nothing shut out. Sarah Polar also won a spot to individual state with six wins. Our boys fencing team is having a great season with their county tournament coming up this weekend. Wyatt spot plays second in districts qualifying for the state tournament. Our winter cheer team is 5 and one right now and tied for first place as of now for the big north conference. The dance team is hosting their big home competition on Saturday, January 29th. This past weekend at their first competition, they placed sixth in jazz and second in
009their team performance. Currently, the student council is working on two big projects. Our first one is the senior choice awards that we hold every year. This week, we collected the talent nominations for our senior choice categories and the final ballot is being made and will be sent out soon. And our other big project is a volleyball tournament on March 8th at the high school gym. At this event, we are raising money for our 10th Special Olympics team. That's all I have for today. Thank you for allowing me to speak. Thank you, Abigail. Okay. Um, director of education, Dan. Thank you, Mrs. Wire. Uh, I have a uh just a a brief update tonight. Uh, we've talked about um rule of enrollment courses a few times in uh education committee and then also at um at
010some recent board meetings. Uh at our last meeting I mentioned that we were working on a number of courses and um I'd be able to let you know which courses we are going to be moving forward on. So we are in the process of um although they're not official the um courses we believe that are going to be moving forward that we're preparing for in our um program of studies for next year. uh dual enrollment, which um just to remind everyone a dual enrollment is a course that a student will receive high school credits as well as uh college credits. So for dual enrollment, we're going to be able to do world cuisine, digital art, autoshop, automotive, um philosophy, and computer programming. In addition to those new dual enrollment offerings that we're going to have,
011we are also going to have the opportunity for, and I I'm um I don't have the names of specific organizations yet because that part is still being worked out. There's a number of different um areas that we can go, but our CAD students, computer rated drafting, and our auto students will be able to take a certification test at the end of the course that will provide them with a um many schools refer to it as a micro credential that they can take with them to um their next level of education. or if they were to an auto shop uh student to apply at Toyota or a local Ford dealer, they would have a um a certificate coming out of our program that they've achieved a certain level of performance. So, that's a that's an exciting
012development for our for our students in these programs and uh we're very uh proud of the progress and I'll know the specific organization that certificate is run through um at our next uh at our next a committee. Dan, what what colleges are doing the uh certification? >> So, we have a few different ones. Uh we are our world cuisine and um world cuisine and auto will be through Pay County Community College. digital art, philosophy and computer programming um could possibly be through either William Patterson or um Randall. We are investigating. So when I first presented, I talked about a relationship with William Patterson and um at that time I I referred to some of the roadblocks with um core syllabus uh um staff with uh certificates, master's degrees in certain areas and we've uh found
013that other um other colleges have different types of requirements. So, we've been working uh I said we um Karen Johnson in the guidance department have been working uh really hard at trying to find the universities that will match the uh abilities of our of our staff. So, uh it's not all through William Patterson as I um as I was working towards in the beginning. You know, now we have a variety of different uh different programs. But um although it may be through uh Ramfell, all of these credits are transferable. So it doesn't mean the student would have to go to that that >> Thank you. Okay. Special reports and correspondence floor. Uh you have the um minutes from the December 14th meeting for um the regular meeting and the executive session. Motion to accept. I'll
014make a motion to approve the following board of education minutes from December 14th workshop regular meeting and executive session. Second voice, please. >> I Okay, Mrs. Dante is not here. There is no president's report at this time. Public comment. This portion 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 5 minutes for a period of 30 minutes and then time permitting other public comment limited to 5 minutes per speaker will be allowed until the 30 minute period transpires. All members of the public speaking during the public comment period are asked to address topics listed in the agenda. All speakers
015are asked to sign the register provided and to give their full name, spell their last name, group affiliation if appropriate, and provide their address. Issues raised by members of the public may or may not be represented responded to by the board. All comments will be considered and a response will be forthcoming if and when appropriate. The board asks that members of the public be courteous and respectful of the rights of other individuals when speaking. Specifically, comments regarding students and employees of the board are discouraged, and the board 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
016their comments in light of the legal rights of those affected or identified by their comments. Members of the public are reminded that they are legally responsible and uh liable for their comments. Are there any people who wish to speak? Okay. Motion to close public comment. I'll make a motion to close public comment. We're second. Okay, at this time all in favor I Okay, at this time we have Kathy Heler here from New Jersey School Boards Association to do our presentation on ethics and I ask that everyone listen very carefully because it is a very important part of our positions as board members. So thank you. Um >> I do have a slideshow. Um so >> just pause for a moment. I'm just checking to make sure our video stream is working properly. >> It's boring,
017Abigail. It's boring. >> We're good. >> Oh, here. I see it's coming. All right. >> You do. >> I'm ready. All right. Great. Um, thank you so much Carrie for having me here. Thanks to the board. It's always a joy to come and see you guys. And you're right, this is very important. Even though it's a lot of information. Um, so if you have any questions now or later, let me know. But I think all of you have I think we've done this I think everyone has has talked, you know, with me about school ethics, right? Le I've done this presentation for everyone I think around the day. But it's very important to do it annually, right? to talk about this annually. It's part of your QAC and also I love doing it in public
018because a lot of times people don't understand the role of the board member and this can be very enlightening for those who listen. So, thank you again and also it's important because it's the law, right? We have to know what this says. You are beholden to it and you'll receive electronically if you haven't already. Um Barbara, you sent it on out or you're going afterwards, right? >> Send it to them. That's that's my preference. So, thank you. Um, the School Ethics Act in its entirety and it's long, it's four pages, it's fine print, but really at the bottom of it all, the whole reason why we have it is to hold the respect and trust of the public and to even avoid giving a justifiable impression that you are violating their trust. Right? Uh we
019had a case a few years ago where the commission ruled, the school ethics commission, which we'll talk about in a second, ruled that a board member, while not technically in violation of the ethics act, did create a justifiable impression that he was violating it. And so they found him in violation of the ethics act. So it's a really interesting snake biting its tail. So it's kind of good for us to talk about this. And again, if you have any questions on this now or later, by all means ask me. I'll start out by saying I'm not an attorney. I am very steeped in the school ethics act just by the nature of the work that I do. But if I can't answer your question, we have NJSBA legal who can give information. And you do
020have your board attorney who really is the best source of information. So if there's a question um that you need uh attorney input on, you go for your board president and ask for that kind of input and uh that could be very very helpful. Um, it's a it's a uniform standard for everybody in the state. So, I like to think of this as a board member's best friend. I mean, it's certainly a field service rep's best friend because everyone's held to the same standards from, you know, top of the state to the bottom, everything in between. That's a good thing, right? And um also I want to note that your QAC is affected by um your you know by following the school ethics act which is kind of interesting because the ethics act really is
021targeted to individual board members. So we're all responsible for following it. But if anyone falls down on that individually the board and the school district suffers. They get digged. Okay. I mean first of all the work of the board suffers when the public doesn't trust you any longer. Um, but also there's points taken off from your QAC. So, you have to do your mandatory training. You got to get your disclosure statements in. Got to talk about the code of ethics. We're doing that now. Um, and if anyone is found in violation of the ethics act, that's points off your QA, too. So, good good things to talk about and to know about. So, and you've seen this slide before, I'm sure, but this is what the ethics act did. Established all of these things, right?
022the mandatory training, the disclosure statements we just talked about. Um the commission itself, which we'll talk about in a second, conflict of interest and code of ethics acceptable, we'll talk about in more detail. So you will you will get a copy of this slide. No reason to take its picture, but this is the mandatory training that NJSBA offers. Um, and you are obligated to take only NJSBA offers this stuff and it's all online right now, but we are moving towards in person as best we can. We are really looking forward to workshops in October. We really are. So hopefully we'll be able to offer mandatory then. In the meantime, don't wait. Take your training as early as you can, right? Um, so ethics commission, this is what it looks like, right? It's they're volunteers. They're
023not paid for this. And it must be a great job listening to bad board member behavior meeting after meeting after meeting, but that's what they do, right? And um there should be nine people on the commission, but now I think we're down to six. I think we're down to only six. Um the governor makes the appointments, but um for >> I'm sorry. No, I'm sorry. I was going to say what does he know? >> Well, I will tell you. Well, you know what? With all due respect, what he should know is that school boards need help in backing this up, right? Because when people follow the ethics act, it benefits everybody and when they violate it or seem to be violating it, it hurts everybody on the board and in the district, I would argue,
024right? So, we do need people to do this job. And I don't know if you've been watching the news lately, but school board meetings have become are becoming very interesting on both sides of the day, right? I would think that you'd want to bulk up the ethics committee, but I don't respectfully again, I don't think this is on the governor's front burner, and it wasn't on the front burner of the governor before him or before that because the maximum number we've had since I've been a school board member was a big high of like seven members. I mean, maybe eight, maybe eight, but it's never been at nine. The entire time I've been immersed in schoolboard work. So, anyway, it is what it is, right? There's not much we can do about that except kind
025of know what the what the playing field situation is like. But what is also interesting about this is that the majority are non-school officials, right? There's a little spot for school board members. There's only one of them in there now. There's a little spot for school administrators. There's only one there now. But the majority of board members uh on the school ethics commission are not sitting where you sit. They don't have anything to do with running or overseeing a school district. So that's kind of interesting. And when you're thinking about these are the people who are deciding whether or not we're in line with the ethics act. They're going to be using the majority of them are using that viewpoint, right? And so they're members of the general public and members of the general public
026can and do complain about school board members rightfully or wrongfully. So, and that's part of how the commission does its work. Um, it hears ethics complaints from anyone who wants to file and anyone can, right? Advisory opinions are different. Advisory opinions are, I dare say, friendlier, right? They're just advice. And the only people who can ask for an advisory opinion are school officials. Board members you can ask about yourself or a fellow board member on your you sits around the day with you. Right? You can't ask about I don't know Montikue. You have to ask about West Milford if you're in West Milford. Um and it's just advice. I'm thinking about doing this. Would I have a conflict? Right? We're in the middle of this. Are we proceeding rightly? Am I proceeding rightly? And they're
027never punitive. If the ethics commission determines that that action that you're looking to undertake is not in line with the ethics act, they'll just tell you don't do it and they trust that you don't do it. There's never a penalty, right? Um and if the advice that they issue you, which will be, you know, just a letter back to you, write a letter to them, they write a letter to you, no fees, no special forms, nothing like that. But if they've given you the kind of advice that would benefit other school boards, they'll publish that advisory opinion on their website. They'll take your name out, your district out, but the advice will be there. And that's very valuable for people like me who worked with this sort in in this realm, certainly for school board
028attorneys, right? Certainly for schoolboard attorneys, but you need six votes from the commissioners to publish that on the school office commission's website. And we're down to only six. And we're not seeing a lot of these um being published at all. Um, there weren't any published last year. There was only one the year before. You can go on the school ethics commission's website and read all this stuff. Um, ethics complaints are always put up there and they are not scrubbed. They've got the details. So, that makes for some really interesting and somewhat embarrassing reading. I will tell you that. And the other difference between an advisory opinion and ethics complaint is an ethics complaint is something that you already did, right? You did something. it's over, but you really bothered someone enough that they're going to
029file an ethics complaint about you. And like I said, anyone can do it. Um, so we want to avoid those because those are punitive. If you're found to have violated the ethics act, you can go, you know, there's four different measures of penalty. on the low end a reprimand which is a rebuke by the commissioner and the best thing I can say about a reprimand is that it's kind of between you and the commissioner of education with her telling you you've done something wrong it it's published on the ethics commission's website but it's that's where it stops a center is a step up where the board president has to read from the day what you've done wrong and why that's wrong right so that's humiliating um you could be suspended you could be removed from
030your board for a certain number of meetings or you could be if your behavior was egregious removed and the com the commission recommends the penalty but the commissioner of education signs off on it right. Uh this is just a visual on what kind of work the SEC did last year. So you'll see that there were at least 30 pe well 30 people who who just never got their training done no matter how many messages were sent to them and seven of whom were kicked off right um and three people were kicked off for not doing their disclosure statements right um but as far as the ethics violations right that were alleged 21 out of 29 were dismissed um six were were were penalized and we'll talk a little bit about them going forward um and
031advisory opinions. You'll know they issued 20 um or at least they 20 were requested um but none of them were put on the website. This will be in your electronic packet, but you saw this last year because this was this was from 2020. So that's all I've got on that. Um code of ethics though is always worth discussing every year and we'll hit on the things that are if not new and different. uh just we're talking about in a little bit of a different way in 2022. Right? So A all right I never used to waste much time on A. If you can go all the way to I mean a it's just so basic right I'll follow the law right whatever the state board tells us we need to do whatever the court whatever
032legislators tell us to do that's what we are going to do as board members we're obligated that is about as black and white as it usually gets but I'm telling you like this year we've had some struggles with this one because people do not understand um it seems that an executive cutive order has the force of law and school board members are not at cannot ignore an executive order at will. They can't. It's breaking the law. Not only the executive order but also the school. Your hands are tied if you're going to stay in line with the code of ethics, which I know you want to do. So, so I have to talk about this and and I don't mind talking about it. I just think it's it's interesting that I do. Um, B, however,
033though, E is real nice. B is my favorite. B is very positive. This is why you're here, right? This is this is what brought you to the deis. This is why your constituents elected you to make your decisions in in terms of the educational welfare of all the children in your district. Right? So, we certainly don't discriminate based on ability, race, creed, sex, or social standing. But we frame our decision making in that context of all children. Not just our kids or our neighbors kids or the kids who are bullied or the kids who are gifted and talented. It's everybody. It's everybody. And that's a beautiful thing. Although that is and that's your charge. It's as simple and as difficult as that. But I love that one. That's my favorite part of the code of
034ethics. And then we start with the job description. Right? So see your policym, planning and appraisal, right? That's what a board does. That's the oversight. That's the 30,000 foot view, right? Um and you only consult uh you only enact those after you've consulted those who will be affected by them. Your public comments that you offer every meeting, right? This district did a marvelous job done with the strategic planning which is in the works. We're going to print that up so you guys can approve it. But that's what you do as board members, right? That's what this board I know does as a whole. So, we're good with with C. Um D continues the job description, but this one gets violated all the time, which is interesting because we say it all the time, right? You
035don't run the schools as a school board member, but you see to it that they are well-run and you do that with your fellow board members. So all the daytoday right all the you know more targeted tasks to see that the goals that you have for this school district are enacted that's administration's job and that's a wonderful thing I God bless our superintendents I really you know give them kudos but that is what they do for our school district we are the oversight together with our fellow board members that one tends to get a little Um, sometimes that bounces off of people's skulls. I don't know why, but it um it in within this is embedded the fact that you don't go to your superintendent as a board meeting member and ask him to run
036a report, do a research project, ask him to do something special for you. No, it's with your fellow board members, right? Um to see to the schools are are wellrun. And the E continues, right? Um, this one too gets violated an awful lot. Um, and that and it's that it's that part I will make no personal promises nor take any private action that may compromise the board. So, we'll talk a little bit more about this in depth because social media is making this one a really interesting part of the code of ethics, right? So, we'll talk a little bit more about that. F. Again, I never used to talk much about F because you're here for your independent judgment. Politics stays out of it. But politics have really been gaining a lot of influence, unfortunately,
037on the work of individual school board members and individual boards of education. Unfortunately, throughout the country in New Jersey, that is not allowed. That is against the law. That is against the law. And I'm sure that as a board member, you want to use your independence. that is why um G is very verbose but it comes down to two concepts and one is confidentiality and the other is truth. So anything that is shared in executive session or distributed with the word confidential on it. You know you mentioned student matters personnel matters are are really relevant here. They stay with the board. Okay, and the superintendent. They don't go anywhere else. Um and that's important not just for adherence to the code of ethics but also as human beings right because confidential information is very sensitive
038information and seeking that out can really harm someone can really harm someone um and truth of course you know I don't think I need to opine on how important truth is but sometimes people do get that wrong. Um, and it's important that you're providing information that is true and accurate, right? And luckily, luckily, you don't typically have to do that to the media outlets or anything like that. Your bylaws, I'm sure, have has that on your president to speak for the board. your superintendent speaks to the district, but you have to keep it this again, social media gives um people a lot of opportunity to violate G or come close to violating G. We'll talk a little bit about that more. Um H I really love because this is really why um you know, a
039district can be successful and a board can be successful even though it's made up of lay people, right? I worked in banking for my whole career, but I could still be a great board member. I wouldn't know how to hire the best teacher at all, but my superintendent certainly does. So, and that's the case with every school district in the state. So, you need the recommendation of your superintendent to make a hire, right? So, that's a good one. And I I absolutely love um you know I always have but when you read this one now I will support and protect personnel the school personnel in the proper performance of their duties. That is a very powerful statement. Um during the pandemic especially you know this is something that you really is it has gained some
040new importance but it's always been a very important thing to have in your back pocket because people who don't understand the role of the board member that we're policym planning oversight we're not the dayto-day we're not personnel issues we're none of that. often times they will well intended not bad people kind of come to you and ask you you know try to rope you into a conversation about someone that they're not really happy with and you can just pull out I from the code of ethics and say this is really not my place I can't be in this conversation they just can't um people look at you differently once you're a school board member right so you have to keep the code of ethics in mind all the time even though you've heard me say
041your authority is only in play at the deis right? Once you walk away, you don't have any authority. You only have authority when you're voting on agenda items, but people do look at us differently, and that's what this that's what the school ethics act is is really all about. Um, and lastly, J, which you know, I slides into very beautifully. If you are presented with complaints, you do not solve them, of course, but you do need to let your superintendent know just what you've heard, just what you've heard, and then kind of back away. And if it ever gets to the board that um you know you're the last stop on the chain of command, your attorney will help you will walk you through that. But in the meantime, um just let your public know,
042anyone who approaches you what that chain of command is. Play with the teacher, goes to the teacher, might go to the principal, goes to the, you know, assistant superintendent, super all the way up, right? Like that. But the board is the last stop on that. And so and we're and really we're only a valid stop on the chain of command in after the failure of an administrative solution which is different I might add than an unpopular administrative solution. Right? So we really don't get involved in the day-to-day effort. Thank you. Right. Um any questions on all of that business? Okay. Thank you. Uh this is the part where we talk about you know bad behavior from last year. Woo. so fun. Um, and I'm very happy to say last time I was here with you,
043um, we had four violations of the of the code of ethics and two of them were my district and now we're up to six and only one of them was my district. So, yay, Northwest New Jersey, we're doing great. Um, and this one wasn't us. Um, a board member who threatened a coach's job. Um, you know, that person got suspended for three months. We all deserve to. Um, this one spoke to conflicts, which we'll talk a little bit more about later. Um, but a board member who had someone belonging to her working in a school district inadvertently just cast the yep vote on the superintendent's miracle. You can't be a part of that if you have someone in your family working in a school district. So, that was uh that was a reprimand there. That
044was a conflict. um a deacon who voted with his fellow board members to approve the use of school facilities for his church which pays him a stipen. Um that's a conflict also. So he got a reprimand as well. Now we start getting a little more interesting. uh a board member allowed his picture and his name to appear on paper flyers during uh during the election, right? Along with two other people, I forget the planning board or whatever. Two other, you know, some some some officials were on there. And um this flyer was um kind of I mean it was just trash talking in a particular political party saying you know if these people win our town is going to you know be a cauldron of hate and this and that and levity blow whatever the
045heck they said. I'm I'm paraphrasing but it was pretty you know it was incendiary. It was bad news. And the guy had his name and his picture and his title as board member there. So that's not good right? He's not speaking for the Biscataway Board of Education when he does that. He's speaking for himself. But he didn't note that at all. So, it's very easy for the public to make guesses about the Biscataway Board of Education's point of view, and that would be inaccurate. So, he got slapped with a censure, I think, because he was off the board by the time this thing was finished. But, E, F, and G violations. Um, and then we keep getting even more interesting. So, we've got a board member who used one of those hyper local like tap
046into whatever things to write an endorsement for a candidate for for DOE. Nothing new there, right? You can do that. You just have to put a disclaimer up there noting that you're talking for yourself, not for the rest of the board, right? And he did that. And he did that. But as the circumstances were, he was endorsing the rival of an incumbent. So someone who sat with him in the base. And when he wrote his endorsement of the other candidate, he um you know belittled his fellow board member. Said she was so bad and oh my god, she's an embarrassment. As a board member, I sit there next to her and I cringe every time she talks to teachers. It's so bad sitting at the dance with her. I'm paraphrasing again, but that's pretty much
047what he said. So, he put the disclaimer up there like, I'm just talking as an individual, but then he started to talk as a board member. That's not good. Okay, if you you got to walk the walk, um after you talk the talk, and that was a a violation, okay? Um and this one, okay, of a board member who I mean, hate to say, you almost lose track of them now. um who on his personal Facebook page made some really awful comments about particular people and particular religions and he was given a censure. Okay. Um again I think he was off in fact I know he was off the board by the time this thing made his way to the ethics commission. So it wasn't as severe a penalty, but you know, more and more
048cases about social media are coming in front of the ethics commission and the language in those decisions are getting stronger. I'm personally grateful for the clarity and what I wanted to show share with you is um is some language from from a past decision. So that being said, here's the disclaimer. It'll be in your package. This will keep you clean, right? If if you act this way, okay, if you act this way, right? So, don't make yourself known as a board member uh like the other guy did, right? But even if you use this, right, and you keep to your role as an individual, there can be some problems with the things that you post on social media. Like for instance, Mr. Tana, right? Mr. Jafana was a board member who made some pretty awful
049remarks about Muslims on his Facebook page and the school ethics commission put this language in its decision which I don't mind reading aloud because I think it's really important and and very very clear that they wrote the school board member is still a publicly elected a fit school official who is charged with serving among other things the educational needs of a diver diverse, dynamic, and multiaceted student populations. Public words which dergate from the mission of a board of education serve no purpose, create unnecessary hostility and animosity within a community and ultimately have the greatest detrimental impact on the very people that the respondent is tasked to serve, the students. Although the commission acknowledges the sanctity of the First Amendment, words that deliberately cause divisiveness should have no place in the educational setting. Really strong stuff,
050right? And I will tell you that, you know, over the years, you've seen it, right? Board members put things on their Facebook page or social media and say first amendment rights. And we know you don't lose your first amendment rights when you become a board member, but you're also beholden to the school ethics act. And you need to listen to these words from the commission, the body that is charged with making sure that our school board members are in line with the ethics act. And this is what they said about that. And what is also very interesting to me is um the fact that you know in that that last line there um the the educational setting like yours your Facebook page is now part of the educational setting which I think is kind of
051fascinating. So thanks for letting me talk about that. I get all worked up when I talk about this. It's it's not West Milford's fault. Believe me, it's not it's just it's really something you see. Um, so we've talked about this social social media in summary. You'll have this, but just, you know, be careful on social media. Um, and so we'll move on to the conflicts of interest. These are spelled out in the ethics act, but they are very nuanced. So it's a casebycase basis often to determine what's a conflict and what's not. So call your friendly field service rep. I'm free. Our attorneys at school boards will give you legal information. Perhaps you will need to use your schoolboard attorney for the best advice, but you know, just make sure you keep your nose clean
052on this. You might even wind up writing for a um an advisory opinion to determine if you're conflicted or not. But in any case, you have to know um the definition of an immediate family member and a family member when we're talking about conflicts. And then very at the very bottom there, you'll get it in your packets, but it notes that the SEC definition of immediate family is your spouse or your dependent child who lives in the same household as you. So, as far as the ethics commission is concerned, my dad is not in my immediate family, but he's a relative, right? So, this is the big definition. It's everybody. It's your stepparents and your parents, your grandchildren, your grandparents, your halfsister, your niece, your daughter-in-law, all that business. Everybody's here, right? So, we keep
053track of who of where these people work basically. Um, so if you have a relative, right, the big picture that works in West Milford, and sometimes that happens, right, you're elected to the to the board and you've got somebody who works in the district. That's the fine. can still be a board member, but you cannot take place in any matters that have to do with the hire or evaluation or compensation of the superintendent. You're just completely out of those, right? Um, and also the board may not hire a relative of yours after you're seated unless there's an exception granted by the executive county superintendent. Um but when we come to collective bargaining that's another area where we have to know where everybody in our family works right um because it affects your ability to participate
054in negotiations. So if you have anyone belonging to you who works in the district you're not only out of the whole superintendent situation but you can't participate in negotiations from start to finish. That's a big solid no. But if you or your immediate family member works out of district in a you know and is unionized right locally. So you know um your husband works in Cedar Grove. You cannot participate in negotiations until basically the final vote to ratify the contract. When everything's settled and ready to go, then you're back in and you're back at the Davis and you can vote yes or no. Um, if you have someone in that big picture relative, right, your niece, your your steparent, what have you, who is unionized out of district who works in Cedar Grove, then you
055can participate from start to finish typically. You'll see that there's a bunch of asterisks all over there. So, there's always exceptions, right, that you have to be aware of. Typically, and here's some examples. um we can walk you through them if you're faced with them, but basically the most import the uh most widespread of these other possible conflicts that we see are if your family member or your relative has what's called heightened union involvement. Like if my sister-in-law who works in Compton Lakes was um you know on her district's negotiations team that I probably can't participate in negotiations in more counter, right? But again, there's a lot of gray, there's a lot of nuance. So seek legal advice when you need. Can I have a question about that? Sure. Can you go back to the
056chart? >> Yep. Sure. >> Um, so if someone wins in the middle right there or either way, if they cannot participate in negotiations, it's a no. >> Yes. >> Can they make suggestions to the negotiating team? >> Do not talk about it at all. Stay away. >> Yeah. Because you know what? On this other slide, Kate, I have a nice little graphic. No. Right. The no stop. So don't take part in any kind of discussion or vote, right? >> Yeah. No, thanks for asking the question. Thanks for and this chart actually came directly out of that advisory opinion there. So if you need further clarification, you'll find that on the school ethics commission's website under A247. So it's issued in 2017. >> Thank you. >> No. Uh thank you for asking. And that advice ch
057has changed over the years, but this is the most current advice that we've gotten. Okay. So if you say, "Oh, I didn't know that. I thought it was different." you were probably right at some time, but right now this is what we're going with. Um, doctrine of necessity, is that an issue here, Terry? I I don't know. Okay, good. Or so we'll skip on over that. But volunteerism, I do like to talk about um because a lot of board members I get it. You know, I volunteered a lot in the school didn't give it a second thought, but of course at some point somebody did something that bothered somebody and the ethics commission said, "Ah, let's take a look at this." And it's not a bad thing um for them to have done that because
058we don't want to turn what's supposed to be a good thing into something that's misinterpreted or bad or that god forbid goes up bucks up against the ethics act, right? Or the code of ethics. And a lot of times people well-meaning are getting mighty close to to um or at least seem to be close to violating good old D, right? I won't run the schools but see that they are wellrun with my fellow board. So to keep your nose clean, you ask yourself these questions, right? Um a one time basically a one-time thing like chaperoning or reading or coming in for a career day. That's fine, right? You but a regular gig would be a problem. So you ask yourself, am I giving or taking orders from staff or students? No. Is it going to
059look like I work there because I'm there all the time? No. Um I don't touch the district's money. Absolutely not. Um, and would you be the lead volunteer for a school club? Right. So, if I want to start the Warren Township Art History Club for I couldn't do that as a board member, right? But what I could do is I could lead a Girl Scout troop. I could, you know, volunteer for the PTO or the rec commission because that's a separate organization from the board, from the school district with its own bank account, its own bios, its own tax ID number. So, that's okay. Um, but as long as your answers line up with these, you're good to go. Good to go. Um, interview committees, I don't know if you guys do that here, but
060basically the the SEC has said in two very long opinions, um, that they don't really like them. Um, but then again, the superintendent owns the hiring process. So, if he feels that one or two board members participating in an interview committee for a highlevel hire, um, that's okay. Just watch your behavior. Um, it's worth reading those if that's if that's of interest. Exit interviews. So interesting, right? Those other two, they go on forever. Exit interviews, they're it was it's like a one paragraph real quick. It was a solid no. Solid no. That's a violation of D. So, okay. All right. Interesting. Um, and so that's a whole bunch of school ethics. Um, that again I'm very happy to have spoken with you about. Um, but if you forget all of that and just remember these
061three things, you'll be ahead of the game, right? So, read school board notes regularly because any kind of new developments or any bad behavior that you need to be aware of and kind of check yourself with is going to be in school board notes. Um, you know, as I mentioned, consult with your board attorney when necessary. This is a team sport, so use your resources. And also just uh, you know, it's a pandemic, so it's a great excuse to stay in touch with your family. a little bit more regularly just to make sure you know where everybody's working and you don't, you know, compromise your work on the board at all. All right? Or the your collective bargaining agreement. And that's kind of that, Terry. So, thanks for the time. Um, it really is all
062about trust and respect and and I must say I do respect this board a great deal. Um, it's my pleasure to work with you. So, if I if you if you need to lean on me and I can guide you through anything, by all means, um, I'm pleased to do it. um because I honor you. This is this is not easy to do these days, school board work and uh and it is actually schoolboard appreciation month, right? Oh yeah. >> So, but I appreciate you every day of every month of every year. So, um and you deserve it and you deserve it. So, thanks so much for your work every day and thank you for being such a good resource. I I don't know how many of you um have questions about New Jersey school
063board or school law, but whatever you need, you can call Kathy at New Jersey School Boards and she'll answer you. She's very good that way. So, thank you very much for being here and we appreciate it. >> Oh, my pleasure. Thanks again, guys. Good to see you and I'll see you again when the strategic plan's already. Thank you. >> Oh, thank you. Barbara, do you note that uh Mr. Bino is in attendance and he did attend the presentation. Okay. Kate. >> Yes. >> Would you please do education? >> Uh we got to adopt the agenda. >> The agenda. >> If there's no changes, I'll make a motion to adopt the agenda as is. >> Okay. Second. >> Second. including the car and you including the hand carry. Yes. Thank you. >> Yes. I >> I
064>> Are you ready? I can do it now. >> Yep. Okay. >> Um I'd like to make a motion to move uh numbers 1 through five under education. >> Any discussion. >> Second Mike seconded it. Um, any discussion on five? >> Okay. Roll call. Mrs. M. >> Yes. >> Mr. Reno. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Stevenson. >> Yes. Mrs. Lockwood, >> yes. Mrs. Romeo, yes. Mr. Conway, >> yes. >> Okay. Personnel and student affairs. Mr. Gino. >> Yes. So, um Okay. Um, so can um can I ask that we um handcarry after executive uh number 15 on the hand carry after executive session? >> Okay. Okay. Can someone make a motion please? Ray >> take a second. >> Okay. Um, Mr. Yes. >> Mrs. Stevenson. >> Yes. Mrs. Lwood, >> yes. >> Mrs. Roel, >> yes.
065>> Mrs. Dwyer, >> yes. >> Mr. Con? >> Yes. >> All right. So now we have um make a motion to approve items one through and carry items and carry one item 16 and 17. Any discussion? >> A second. >> Second. >> Discussion. Um I I have a question. Not sure if a question or a concern, but on number 13 um the women's studies, >> there was something I wanted to talk about. >> Okay. It seems to me more like an academic course than a club. And I looked at the information you sent me, but I'm concerned that the purpose to educate the community shouldn't be the should not be the um focus of a club. And the other thing I have a question about is the activities. They it says that there are projects
066planned. Um, I want to know what those projects are and how they're going to affect the community and is there is there teaching going on or is it truly a club where kids are immersing themselves into a u into their own discussions and and and the empowerment of women. So that's my So right now I would vote no on that unless there's further information. >> So I actually was the opposite. I've seen a bunch of um posts on this from the community that seems very excited about this club and I wanted to give thanks and kudos for starting this club because I think it's something that um we should be praising. >> Okay, Ray, >> so if I'm hearing you you think that maybe this should be a academic class? >> That's what it sounds
067like. It sounds more like a class to me and that's my concern. It sounds more like a class >> than it does a club from the information. Kate, >> um, from what I understand just from the community is that this was a club requested by students, which is typically how clubs have always been, and I've never seen a club have an academic curriculum. So, I mean, we can name numerous clubs with all different things. So, >> but this one looks like it does have one like it has. >> So, you have more information, I think, than the rest of us. >> I have the email that Dr. Ammo sent to me cuz I asked about it, right? >> So, uh maybe you can share that with us later. But that's my only concern is that
068if it's going to be academic, I want to see kids get credit for it. Okay. Otherwise, I don't have a problem. >> So, when you say he could share that, >> it's on the email. He sent it to me today. >> It's not it's not a four credit class. It's an after school club. It probably meets about once a week for the spring semester. Uh I'm going to say once a week um for an hour give or take. Obviously things change during the course of the spring semester. There's no curriculum. Uh but they do discuss issues that are current events or in issues that are of interest to the group. So this activity project this project the word project worry >> for credit >> right >> definely not for credit there's no credit awarded um
069>> did you get to be so could this be something that maybe they do as a club and develop into >> a class club has projects they have a lot of projects they do a lot of things but it's >> not political Oh, women's studies is political. I didn't see that. I'm sorry. >> How is women studies? >> You read the read the email. Okay. He'll go over the email with you. But that's any that's just my concern and I've expressed it. Okay. Any other discussion? No other discussion. Okay. Roll call vote, please. >> Mr. Greeno, >> yes. >> Mrs. Stevenson, >> yes. >> Mrs. Lockwood, >> yes. >> Mrs. Romeo, >> yes. >> Mr. Conlin, >> yes. >> Mrs. >> Yes. Okay. Operations and finance. Um Ray, could you take that? >> Oh, wait.
070Mike. Mike, are you on operations? >> Yes. >> Okay. Mike, could you take that? >> Sure. Still trying to catch approve item number one on the agenda. >> Second. Second. Okay. Roll call. >> Mrs. Stevenson. >> Yes. >> Mr. Green. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Lockwood? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Dwire? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Romeo? >> Yes. >> Mr. Confliner? >> Yes. >> Move item number two on the agenda. >> Second. Clar >> Mrs. Stevenson >> yes >> Mr. Deino >> abstain >> Mrs. Dwire >> yes >> Mr. Mrs. Laughlin >> yes >> Mr. Conlin >> yes >> Mrs. Romeo. >> Okay. And >> move items three through 8. >> Second roll, please. Mr. Reno. >> Yes. Mrs. Stevenson, >> yes. >> Mrs. Laughwood, >> yes. >> Mrs. Dwire, >> yes. >> Mrs. Romeo, >> yes.
071>> Mr. Conson, >> yes. >> Okay. Policy, Mrs. Stevenson, resolution to move items 1 through five. >> Second. >> Okay. Roll call. M. Stevenson. Y >> yes. >> Any questions about this? Sorry. >> Okay. >> Mrs. >> Yes. >> Mr. Con? >> Yes. >> Mr. Marino? >> Yes. >> Mr. Yes. >> Okay. The committee reports the ways on parks and recreation. Mr. Conc. >> There you go. >> All right. Uh, parks and recck, we got registrations now open for indoor soccer. Games will be played on Sunday starting February 20th at the rec center. and they are looking for volunteers to help assist with starting up indoor kids uh floor hockey programs. If you're interested, please let um contact someone at the rec center and hopefully they can get this started. That's it. >> Uh safety
072no report superintendent round table clear. So, these are the minutes from the December 16th meeting. Um, there was a question about the mask mandate that was set to expire. Obviously, we had an update to that. It was extended. At this time, there was no update. um the Chromebook user agreement. There was a question about um when it was going to be put in place and um it's going to be put in place in September 2022 for the start of the new school year. There was a question um about the Highlander Academy if they have a full-time nurse and administrator and that was answered saying that they have a halftime nurse for the academy that's shared with Marshall Hill and UGL and the administrator is also the supervisor of special services and their office is based
073at Highlander Academy and there was a question about whether there's cameras in the Highlander Academy and it's actually um rented uh from the church and there are cameras downstairs in the preschool and in the stairways. There was some follow-ups on transportation and substitutes on how the open house went and um the update was given that hopefully two additional drivers would be approved. um post-pandemic policies um updates about just assemblies and PTO events and uh Dr. Adam and Mr. Novak were going to um talk to the uh administrators in the buildings just to make sure that those were going forward an update on the UGL nurse. Um at that time there was not um Hillrest any update and they just said that there was no update. This may or may not be a legal matter. The
074district attorney is working towards an update and Dr. Anamon will share when able and the next meeting is this Thursday. It's the state county school boards association. We have nothing. Um New Jersey school boards association but we just had the ethics presentation which is very good. Um Mrs. Romeo legislator report technology oversight. Mr. Gino. >> Yeah. So um the um overhaul of the website is moving along and I think the biggest thing that came out of that now is uh we do have a good group of parents. Uh we've spoken already to staff members. The next step is um Alex, Dan, Robert to talk to um parents and kind of get a handle on what we want. And there's a there are some really good parents that are part of that uh that committee. So,
075um, really it's about that next phase. I think that group is probably going to meet sometime within the next couple weeks. So, there'll probably be a few meetings and then we can start to grasp that. I think we've also chosen who it is that we're going to use. I think some of the meetings still have to be vetted, but I think we're going to we've chosen who we're going to use um as our provider. And they provide for hundreds and hundreds of school districts and in New Jersey alone, probably thousands across the country, I think. So, very well. >> Okay. Thank you. And uh we have a meeting on Friday at 9:00 a.m. with township representatives and it's going to be against a Google Meet. >> So we have that. Okay. West Mil say >>
076me. >> Yeah. Okay. West Milford Municipal Alliance. Courtney. on. >> Yes. >> Okay. We had a meeting um uh you know they had a their whole focus of um the prevention and education for um substance abuse. Um so they had a presenter from the recovery centers of America. They had some insight into um you know COVID and how they're seeing a lot more um alcoholism come about. So, they're going to be making flyers um to hand out and pamphlets to hand out at some of their upcoming events um to really focus on their prevention and education for substance abuse. Um they also spoke a lot about um the township's decision on their uh marijuana laws that they have just instituted. um they're kind of waiting to hear more and focusing on educating our youth in
077not abusing any Okay, thank you. Okay, old business. Okay, >> I think this falls under old business, but that's uh uh the Kilgallum field and maybe where we stand and what we're thinking of doing with regard to budget for next year. I know we've done some great things so far this year, I'm sorry, throughout the years. Um returf the football field, put up new bleachers. We do have a new fieldhouse up there that gets used by multiple sports now, I think. Right. Um, we've resurfaced two gym floors. So, we've done all those things. I think maybe the next step is, you know, what are we going to do for program that uses that varsity baseball field? >> Any questions? >> So, thoughts about what we're going to do from from a budget perspective for next
078year, how we're thinking of that. Yeah. Um I don't believe Mr. Kelly has anything uh it's basically going to be a maintenance type thing. He's he's um taken the direction from the committee. He's put out a request for proposals on some um engineering and um some sprinklers for a growing infield. So, we have irrigation, but um I haven't had an opportunity to talk to him to see if he's gotten anything back and that'll be discussed in February at the next committee meeting. >> Okay. Yeah, I know he's done a lot of leg work. I know there was a lot of leg work probably from summer of last year to you know through the fall. >> I just I just I think >> well we didn't do much because baseball kept using the >> but no
079but I think he did some >> external leg work to find out. >> Yes, but I don't think he I don't think he went to uh an outside uh contractor for any kind of information which is what he's doing now. And um so in February when we have our our committee meeting we will be able to discuss the information that he's gotten and we are changing the times for the committee meeting for the next month. >> Yeah. >> So that um hopefully it'll be a little bit easier for Mr. Conlin to attend. >> It'll work better with his work schedule. So, >> um, >> more information that >> Yeah. And I know probably a big piece of that is that I think you just mentioned is like we have to know, right, the public has
080to know too that that field is going to have to probably be shut down for a period of time, you know, and we need to let it rest. We need to like if we put a grass in field, you got to give that kind time to take. So I I just want to make sure people are aware that like this isn't something where we just make a fix and people are going to get going to get on it. But >> I think the intent is to go through and and right make a fix, >> right? We have to know there's a period of time not going to be able to be used. The only offseason we really have now is the winter and you can't do work on that field winter, >> right? with baseball
081in the spring and summer, field hockey in the fall. That's three seasons of use, but then it freezes up in the winter. So to do the work, you have to shut down one of those three seasons, >> right? >> Which is frustrating for people who have children in the program now. They're saying, "That's great. It look good next year, but I, you know, I'm graduating this June." So it's it's a balancing act. And uh you know once our high schoolers are done using it >> you know by the weekend >> then we have uh summer baseball which could have back seat if we have >> they're not going to be using it this summer. >> Yeah I think right we have talked about contingency plans with uh do and those kind of things. Right. >>
082Right. Well didn't we work on Howard field to make that better? How small >> I know >> Howard is softball and that >> is that better that's done and taken care of for the >> there probably before it throws over. I don't really >> work at Howard. >> Yeah. And some of the work that they did on Howard Field >> hopefully mitigated some of the water issues that >> you experienced at Kill Gallon because they were able to level it and build it up on the one side. So, >> so that field will be ready for the girls softball to use. >> Yeah. >> Howard is done. >> Kate had a question. >> Um I was just thinking um would you be able to add um K gallon link the field on to the agenda?
083I'm not sure if there is an agenda to Friday's 9:00 a.m. meeting to discuss with town council for a few different reasons. Um >> that is good. >> One to let them know that the wreck teams won't be able to play on it in the summer. I think they already know that. They do. Okay. And that is that is one of the topics for discussion. I understand it is on there. >> I think so. Yeah. From what I've heard from Linda. Yes. >> Great. So, okay. All right. Any other old business? Anybody want to pick on anybody? Okay. Good. I'm being facitious. I'm left. Okay. A little sense of humor here. Okay. Uh move to call close all business. >> Second. Who Who said yes? Who said first? >> You just did. >> Oh, okay.
084I didn't. >> This is why I don't want to be president. >> Okay. Claire. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Okay. New business. Any new business? I I have something. Um, last Friday was snow day. Um, and the rumor on the street, and it's only here to say, is that we had the schools open because there was a wrestling tournament and some basketball games. When the kids went to Highlander Academy, that parking lot wasn't even plowed yet. So, I just want an explanation if that's true or not. >> Can you say that again? I didn't hear the whole thing. The rumor was that the reason we do not have that snow day was because there was a wrestling tournament. Okay. And when the kids got to Highland Academy, nothing was even plowed yet. So,
085I just want to know if that's true or not. >> So, I'll just throw out the wrestling tournament was Saturday, not Friday. >> Okay. So, is >> And I was actually going to bring that up as due business. I thought it was great for West Milford to be able to showcase their gym, to be able to have crowd there, to be able to have wrestlers in there from the entire county. I thought that was a big win for uh >> Well, that's why I wanted to know if it was the bad weather day. I thought it was Thursday. >> Yeah, I thought it was Thursday also. >> It was Thursday afternoon. >> It was Friday morning. >> No, it was Thursday. I I had a snow day and then >> Yeah. And to raise the
086point, we host two pretty big wrestling tournaments every year. One is the P County tournament and one is their region tournament which is part of the state tournament and they do a really good job. I know they had a great tournament last week and it's always wellrun. It's uh one of the best county tournaments and we do the regions is probably one of the best regions tournaments around. So one would have nothing to do with the other. Um, there might have been a high school sports on that Thursday anyway. There is a sporting event probably every day during the school year, either practice or a game, but that would not have factored into the decision to um have delayed opening or or or cancel school. The timing of the storm was very bad. It was
087uh >> it it was it was hadn't started snowing yet when we made a decision and it kind of >> we made a decision and then 5 seconds later it started snowing. It was just very bad timing. >> I just had a couple of phone calls I forget. All right. Were there any other issues with Go ahead. >> Um well, with that issue, I mean, I fully agree with uh what Alex said. I was standing there thinking that the storm was supposed to start at 6:00 a.m. >> started >> if we had the regular delay. We would have been fine if it started at 6:00 a.m. because they would have had the roads clean, but it just was that tiny, right? So, with that, I'm just curious. In my time on the board, this has
088never been up for discussion. And I was curious if we've ever discussed >> having a two-hour delay rather than an hour and a half. Has that been discussed? >> Yes. Many years ago, there was a discussion. If we have a 2hour de delay, we're a half hour um half hour in the negative column on instructional time. So that's why they had to move it to 90 minutes. >> Right. So south to Terry's point of when you you need a 4-hour day to to forget to count and it does not include passing time in the hallway between classes or lunch. So 2 hours delay would not give us enough minutes to meet the 4hour minimum. Um we would be short. So 90 minutes is about as long as we can do. So, uh, that also practice
089in a blue. So, we discussed the the math. >> Thank you. >> That just brings up another point that I have in my head. Why are other schools have longer days than we do? >> So, like other schools must have longer days to be able to do 2hour delays. >> So, we're not short, but we're a little short. Um, but I my guess would be the districts that had the two-hour delay probably have slightly longer instructional days, which gets them over the hump a little bit, so to speak. So, >> I think it might also be that uh other school districts don't do lunch on their late openings or we do. >> I could answer that also for other like they cut the passing time and they cut the lunch time, but you either have
090to feed the kids or send them home with a lunch, a bag of lunch or something. And isn't isn't the number of hours instructional time is that a negotiated thing? It is. It is. So, >> any other new business? >> Oh, no. I didn't realize that that would be a negotiating item like the hours of the delay. I really was just thinking as a school. >> Oh, yeah. Okay. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Any other new business? >> Seeing has none, I'll make a motion to close new business. >> I'll second. >> Okay. All in favor? >> I >> Okay. All right. 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 pertinent
091to and or directly related to the operation of the West Milford Public School District. Members of the public were 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 the time permitting other public um other public uh uh comment limited to 5 minutes per speaker will be allowed until the 30 minute 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 will be forthcoming if and when appropriate. The board asks that members of the
092public 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 accorded to them by the laws of New Jersey. The board is not responsible and is not liable for any comments made by members of the public. Members of the public should consider their comments in light of the legal rights of those affected or identified in their comments. Members of the public are reminded that they are legally responsible and liable for their comments. Are there any people who wish to speak? Okay. Ready? >> See none motion. >> Second. >> Okay. All in favor? Hi. >> Okay. Uh Mike, would you read the executive session, please?
093>> Can we adjourn after executive session or do we have to come back out? >> Sorry, I forgot. >> Yeah. Go ahead, Greg. >> Uh 8:20. >> Yeah. Make a motion uh to go into executive session for purpose of discussing personnel agreements, resignations, current litigations, matters, negotiations, grievances in matters of attorney and client privileges. >> Second. >> Hang on. The executive session will not be released until such time as the privileges or confidentiality is no longer applicable. >> Second. >> Okay. All in favor? >> I. >> Okay. And we will return after executive action session for action. We will be gone for when you have >> more than that probably. >> Okay. >> Mrs. Romeo >> here. >> Mrs. Stevenson. >> She's here. >> Excuse the five minutes. >> Mrs. Dwire >> here. >> Mr.
094Gino >> here. >> Mrs. Lockwood >> here. >> Mr. Con >> here. >> Okay. >> Not running in schools. We are here to vote on number 15. >> So I'd like to >> make a motion. Greg, >> so I'd like to make a motion uh to vote on item 15 under personnel. Second. Okay. Um Barber, >> no discussion. >> Oh, any discussion on this? >> Mr. Greeno, >> abstain. >> Mrs. Stevenson, >> yes. >> Mrs. Laughwood, >> yes. >> Mrs. Romeo, >> yes. >> Mr. Conlin, >> yes. >> Mrs. I believe it's a requirement tomorrow at 9:49 like to make a motion to adjourn. Second. >> All in favor? All right. Bye. Good night everybody.