001That's more important. Absolutely. I have 12 pounds of clothing. >> I'm doing good. How you doing? >> Spread out now. I'd like to call the meeting to order and if we can have a moment of silence and remember all the people lost from the tornado. Please rise for the flag. >> I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. In accordance with the provisions of the open public meeting act, a public notice of this meeting has been sent to board members, all district schools, the Herald news, the suburban trend, the record, the messenger, West Milford town hall, county superintendent office, the board attorney, cable division of Warwick, and West Milford TV77 and post
002administration Copies of the board meeting calendar resolution were provided to all C local media town hall township library and all district schools. Roll call. >> Mrs. Romeo >> here. >> Mrs. Stevenson >> here. >> Mr. Conlin >> here. >> Mrs. Ryer >> here. Mr. Gino >> here. >> Mrs. O'Brien >> here. >> Mr. Oinsky >> here. >> Mr. Stillman >> here. >> Mrs. Van Dyke >> here. Good evening, Dr. Animal. >> All right. Good evening, everybody. Welcome to our December meeting. Um, we will, this is also Mr.'s final meeting. As part of our board, we will have some additional words uh later than you. So, I just want to get that out of the way now. But, um, we'll start it off with our on-site decision day last Thursday at the high school. Um, just
003to recap, this is an event we have for our seniors. It's put on by our guidance department. They work in conjunction with dozens of colleges both in the state and in neighboring communities or neighboring states. Uh regional events so to speak. Our students sign up for interviews with local colleges. Uh Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Connecticut. The colleges send representatives to our high schools. Usually it's in the lower media centers. This year we had to spread it out to a couple of classrooms. Um but they meet with the students. They review their their transcripts, uh, grades, test scores, the whole package, and then they render a decision whether or not to admit them on the spot. So, it started out very small in 2003, and it's grown every year. So, some numbers we just
004got back yesterday. We had over 40% of our high school seniors participated in on-site decision day. That's better than two two out of five. We have over 201 acceptances. We have 19 more who are weight listed. We should find out very shortly. And we also had a couple students otherwise that number would have been much higher. We had just as seat hall alone we had seven admitted to Satan Hall. Nine admitted to Rowan, 12 admitted to Stockton, 17 admitted to Ravo, 17 admitted to William Patterson, 25 admitted to Montlair State, plus a lot of other schools where the numbers uh very high as well. So, we'll start to learn more and more about scholarships awarded. Not all the schools offer the scholarship at the same day. Some do. So, some of those students we just
005mentioned were not just admitted to a college, they also received a scholarship offer from that college. Some other schools wait until the new year to offer the scholarship money. So, it's a very successful event. Um, like I said, it's growing. It started out with probably 10% of our students and now we're at over 40% participating. So, uh, it's a day we look forward to every year. Next up, we have to make a minor adjustment to the 2022 23 district calendar. Um, we're going to align our November break with the NJA convention, uh, which will be November 10th and 11th. So, right now on our calendar, it said November 3rd and 4th. We will adjust that tonight as the agenda motion. Once it's approved, we'll share with the school community um for next year. and our
006student representative, Miss Weiss. >> Hello everyone. On November 30th, the high school held the West Milford hometown Pride night. We had a great turnout and many students had great opportunities to meet with the coaches and advisers for anything they were interested in participating in for their future high school careers. The annual coral concert was held for the first time since the pandemic the other night, and it was amazing to see them get back on the stage. Our band is performing tonight and there was so much excitement about that today in school. So, and it's also their first time since the pandemic. So, that was really exciting for them. Our winter sports have been starting up the past couple of weeks since we are wishing them luck at the start of their season. Our hockey team
007has some big games coming up along with our boys and girls basketball team, boys and girls dancing teams, and our wrestling team who went to Ruckers to watch one of their matches last Friday. Our Special Olympics basketball team had their big skills event on December 3rd. This was an amazing night. We were able to give our Highlander athletes many gold, silver, and bronze medals. We had over 60 volunteers from our high school alone who came out to help cheer on our athletes. We are also introducing a new sport to the high school. Unified basketball will be hosting their interest meeting next Tuesday. Unified sports joins people with and without intellectual disabilities on the same team. Our high school is so excited to be getting involved as it is the perfect way to promote inclusion and
008diversity within the school. We are not only excited to watch them grow as a team, but we are also excited to see the difference it makes in the school since it sends such a strong message. As everyone is getting ready for the holidays, we are too. The student council is hosting our annual door decorating contest which ends next week. The winner will receive money to our Highlander coach. We are also having our spirit week next week. Monday we get into the holiday spirit and wear holiday hats and collars. Tuesday, there is an incoming holiday blizzard and everyone is wearing white. Wednesday, everyone is pulling out their ugliest holiday sweaters. And Thursday is the night before holiday break where everyone is wearing their comfy clothes. Thank you so much for letting me speak today. I hope
009everyone has a safe and happy holiday. >> Safety. >> Thank you, Abigail. Um, >> Mr. Nova, >> right? >> Um, in a moment, Dr. Moss is going to share our start strong presentation. Um, I spoke to the ED committee uh at last week's meeting about uh some of the things that we've been working on. I've mentioned it in this uh in this setting quite a few times. Um I feel like I talk about link it and start strong at every meeting that we have. Uh the reason I do so is because of the importance that we see uh in terms of getting our students to a place where we can move uh move past the um you know the type of learning that we had during during the pandemic. So um Dr. Malos is going
010to explain a little bit about the background of the start strong assessment uh and and talk a little bit about that and share our results um across the district. I just want to um you know we've had some questions. This is not a uh not an assessment that gives us comparative data to uh to other school districts. The the purpose of this assessment is for us to know where our students are as as individuals and for our ability to you know know where those gaps were identified from the you know the uh pandemics going all the way back to um you know March of March of 2020. So, we feel we we got the the data that we uh expected. Um, you know, I've mentioned a few times about my role in in our uh
011our county curriculum consortium. Uh, although we don't have comparative data on a on a spreadsheet, I do have the, you know, the the conversations that I've had with our our county peers and uh and I believe our data um is relatively, you know, in line with with, you know, the concerns that, um, you know, that my county colleagues have have had. So, um, without further ado, um, Dr. Matlo will will present our our results and, um, you're going to talk about ISR, so I'll I'll I'll stop talking. All right. You stand by. >> All right. Thank you everybody. Uh Sophia, merry Christmas. Happy holiday, of course. Um, here we go. The moment you've been waiting for. Start strong. 2021. All right. Thank you. All right. So, here we go. So, the beauty about today though
012is December the 14th and uh Mr. Novak just mentioned it before is actually the u the ISR reports came out today. So, actually were delivered um to the district. Of course, we're in the process of uh dissecting those and getting to the appropriate buildings. But let's talk about this. Um this came out of nowhere, right? Um what is it? Why did it happen? um back in well when when the world ended I guess in 2020 um the state decided that NJSLA obviously was not going to happen. Um so of course we went through the spring into the summer and then eventually we needed something or at least from the point of view of the state we needed something to determine how did our students at least do in the previous year. And so what they
013came up with and again actually just talk about both right now um is in December of 2020 we first had the optional assessment right so the optional assessment was any district interested in seeing what a benchmark will look like for their students feel free to take this not mandated in any way shape or form but feel free to take it well plus took it there were a handful of districts that took this assessment and uh I'm going to say it again there were a handful of districts that took this assessment reason why I say that um is when we then went into the mandated version of Starstrong. Not only were we prepared for this, but we had school districts reaching out to us kind of saying what is this thing? You guys did it last
014year. Uh can you explain it? So that felt good. It was a good moment for for our school district and really taking the lead on start strong and what exactly a benchmark does for a district in itself. All right. So basically when when our students took this it is a standardsbased again on the previous academic year. So again, I'll use an example. My daughter of course being in fifth grade right now, she took the fourth grade version of an assessment. So all the standards she took was based on the fourth grade obviously being current fifth grade student. Okay. At the same time, once she clicked submit on that assessment, those results were available to teachers immediately. So we didn't have to wait until December 14th to see if Johnny or Joanie had strong or strong
015support was needed or some support was needed. They immediately had that in the palm of their hands to determine okay they didn't do so on this assessment. Why? I'll talk about later what they also saw in terms of the actual breakdown of the questions that you have. All right the NJDA also had to satisfy those federal requirements. All right. U because we didn't take NJSL in the spring. This was again a way to fulfill obviously the federal department of education requirements and again keep in mind the start strong is not and again not a replacement of NGSLA. There's a chance this might go away next year. All right, that NGSLA meet ELink test going forward. Uh but again we don't know we won't know that in course until July 1st of the following year. Okay,
016when you the teacher saw your student take the assessment this is what you have. Okay, in the preliminary student report, it told you exactly did they need support in the specific area, whether again it was geometry, it was something within writing, okay, reading or again or of course science. Now, our students in West Virginia public school in the state of New Jersey for the mandated version of this which we took back in October. All right, was again grades 4 through 12. All right, our results districtwide, right? Let's kind of go over this here. The the orangey color, if you want to call that less support, you then have some support in the middle and then strong support being of course at the bottom. All right, break this down. What does all that mean? So if
017you on start strong has strong support again let's go back to that previous slide need strong support those bottom numbers right ELA and math science all right you would essentially in NJSLA again don't want to use it as a precursor but if you're matching the two assessments up you're looking at a 650 to a 699 in terms of a score what does that mean you're essentially you did not meet the expectation of NJSLA but because it is a different test all itself you get into the sum support category 25 3540 okay 700 to 749 expands it quite a bit because now you're in the partially and approaching depending where you ended up of course in the middle there right that's 700 to 749 on the left with NJSLA and then of course going back you
018have of course the left support 471 19 and 16 in science in meeting percentages and that again one more time less support 750 to 850 you're looking at met expectations or of course exceeded them again if you're looking at NJSLA all right so again that being the difference between the two essentially combining the different levels to get your sum uh sorry your strong sum and less support okay all right half glass full that's what I call this because if you look at our results in ELA All right. 72% were in the less some support. 54% less some support. And within science, 56% less some support. I make a big deal of this only because you're coming out of 2020. You're coming out of a virtual atmosphere. You're coming out of a hybrid schedule. And then
019you're taking an assessment in October mandated by the state of New Jersey. and our kids showed up, right? 72% 54% 56%. And again, you can argue the sum category can lean either way. Uh to me, coming out of all of that, again, um I our staff was very pleased just districtwide with these results. All right, breaking this down even more. I could go grade by grade here. Grade four, we had 191 students who took start in October. All right, half class full approach again 68% in ELA, 62% in math. Again, breaking down further with the 31 meaning strong support, 26 some 42. And again, same thing with of course math 37, 31, and 31. But again, for grade four, this was key because they're they're taking the grade three standards. Again, it's not based on
020grade four. This is based on grade three. Um, coming out of of course the pandemic year, if you want to call it that, results are very, very good for grade four. Grade 5 231 students are 81% in the less support some support as well as in math 60% with the less important sum support. Grade six 236 students. All right. So grade six a little different because they also have to include science within this category. So they are taking the fifth grade standards obviously in sixth grade and taking a look at the breakdown here 64% in ELA 44 in math and 56% in science. Grade 7 255 students taking ELA and then 218 in math and again we know that we start branching off into our different levels in mathematics especially in grade seven. So you're
021looking at 78% within ELA for the sum and less and 64% in course math for the sum and less categories. It's going to be very repetitive. I apologize. In ELA 270 students and again with math 156 students took it. In grade 8 again 77% ELA 56%. Grade nine. Again, grade nine kind of on its own here, but you'll see the math scores after these slides. ELA 22 students and 200 in science 61% some and less. And of course with science 61%, some and less than grade 10, 221 students. All right, 63% ELA by itself with the sum and less work. And in grades well by itself of course with science 105 students took this assessment and again with the assessment itself just to also include this was approximately 45 minutes to take. Um it took
022maybe two days the most to complete it. We were provided by a window by the state of New Jersey which essentially lasted from the first day of school all the way until October 27. So we have plenty of time to not only finish the assessment but of course have our makeup complete as well. All right, add in science 47% sum and less support needed. All right, then you get into the breakouts with algebra 1, right? Grade 79, 278 students, 33%. All right, the sum and less support needed. Algebra 2, 280 students took this at 66% some and less support needed. Geometry grades 8 through 10, 237 students, 53% some and less support needed. All right. And again, just to kind of flow through everything, of course, I will provide, you know, copies of all these
023assessments to our district website on the testing of course website. Our upcoming state assessment. So, a lot of changes uh especially going into 2022 in grade 11. I'm sure everyone is aware of the state board of education um essentially passed if you want to call it that a brand new assessment just for grade 11. And now our window for this will be March 14th to the 25th. This will be on the same platform. It will be on the Pearson access platform uh as we take NJSLA and star shrugs. Of course, this is not a familiar site for our grade 11 students. So this unfortunately yes will be in addition uh to NJSLA which this year the grades will be 3 through 9. Again historically was 3 through 10. Um again our window for this will
024be April 25th to June 3rd. We're doing something new. um especially with our elementary buildings. We're going to stagger the assessments um from April into May. So what we used to do in the past was essentially here you go third grader, you're going to take a test all week long, ELA and math and that's it, you're finished. So we felt the need that you know what, we're going to start you April 25th with ELA. give you a break, let our teachers catch up, let them get to um give you more content within mathematics and then by May uh the week sorry May 10th that would then be the mathematics assessment for NJSLA and then especially if you are a fifth grader where you have to take science we're going to give you another week kind
025of to get ready for science and then that final week we're going to do the science assessment. So again, essentially giving that kind of staggered approach so our students have that opportunity really kind of take it in breathe a little bit uh before they take that final assessment. All right. And of course the parent there is there's actually a New Jersey parent portal. Um once the parent receives the ISR that individual student report, there is an actual code on there. They can log into Pearson Access and all of their state assessments are actually listed on there. So from park to NJSLA you can have a historic record and archive if you want to call it that of every single session your child has taken. All right. It's a very easy uh login process. >> Yes
026ma'am. >> Is there um when you log on to that and they have the assessment do they show a comparison um among districts among students statewide? Well, they they essentially just give you a copy of your ISR reports that they have. Um, so you're getting your individual scores and so forth. The only way you're going to really see a comparison with other districts um is essentially kind of the you want to call it the school report card where you're getting kind of the um you know the uniform approach of how are all of our students doing compared to other schools. >> Whereas like the SAT then yes you do. College Board does provide you, I have to say, a lot more information um with how how your child did with the PSAT. >> Yeah. One
027of the things we saw, I mean, you saw it when we got to we didn't need the short strong result to tell us about our concerns in seventh and freshman mathematics. I've been I've been talking about that in this group and and committee, you know, since last last November, December. That's where we see, you know, one of those uh one of those concerns and and it's consistent across the state and and across the county. Just the the prerequisite skills necessary for that level of mathematics were things that were um you know, one of the things that suffered with students being in so many different um so many different environments. So, um, knowing that, knowing going into this before we even had the result, we've we've put things in place and you've approved. We have the,
028uh, algebra 1 refresher course for our, uh, that's an offering that we have for our current freshman who who passed algebra 1 as eighth graders and moved on to geometry. But, you know, the result that we knew was coming knows that they passed. they passed in a pandemic environment >> and that there are skills, standards and and gaps that we have to address. We have a course in place um you know to do that. Uh we've added um encore support. We've bolstered our uh you know basic skills offerings in our in our elementary schools. Uh, one of the things you're going to find in the middle school and the high school coming back from winter break is that we're going to be offering uh after school um after school tutoring, after school programs, after school
029clubs for our um ELA and mathematics uh students coming out of it. That's one of the um that's one of the components of the latest uh um co um co recovery grant. The uh S for three grant affords us money at the middle school and the high school to offer those things so we can have our teachers um being there to you know do tutoring with small groups to try and um work on these work on these skills. We're not only relying on after school clubs because or after school tutoring because we know that's not going to hit everyone. Uh so what we're uh we've really started really started in conversations over the summer with us waiting for the data taking our benchmark assessments through link looking at the data our uh staff this week
030we had um department meetings last week we had faculty meetings and we started getting this data um the newer data into our staff's uh hands so they can start looking at the standards and and really making sense of where those big gaps lie. We have two professional development days coming up. Um, one is on January 18th and the other is on February 18th where majority of that time is going to be dedicated to our staff working together identifying standards in need of of um support and planning lesson objectives to bring our students forward. So the real power of the data process that we have is we have the um the link benchmark assessment A that we took what was the time frame that was early September >> September last week September >> last week September
031we have start strong prior to our January 18th professional development day our students will complete benchmark B and link it and that's the real power of the assessment that we have is because we'll see what start strong said they missed last year link it tells us where they are now compared to their current standards and then we'll see their growth from our first benchmark assessment early in the year to when we take it uh starts January 11th, correct? Yeah. So, January 11th, they'll take that follow-up assessment and then when our staff meets on January 18th, they'll have that data. They'll see how our students have grown and they'll be able to target the standards that are still standing out to us that that we've identified so far. So, uh you know, we knew this was
032coming as you know, Dr. ment was first in glass half full. We were we were prepared for this just because it was consistent with what we had seen in the classroom in the things that we were looking at through our link benchmarks. Um so we we got a good plan ready to go and we're excited to to get moving. >> Stan are when you're when you're doing the professional development in January, are they going to meet grade level to see where we're the weaknesses like across the district and how we're going to be addressing them on the grade level? >> So those are some of the things that Dr. Matlo and I, our supervisors, our principles are looking at now is the district level standards of weakness. And that's the planning that we're doing now
033is how do I identify, you know, best practice lessons, best practice um strategies for for those big standards. But then we also know that every classroom is different, every student is different. So, you know, we're looking at the broad the broad picture for what standards as a district do we have to target by grade level. at the building or department level. They're working with individual teachers, individual grades to see what their class is. And it's not also um you know, although it's a big picture for the district, it also comes down to that every almost every environment that our student was in last year was was different. You know, when they had to do half of their learning at home, we know every home is different. We know so so the results in one room
034could be very different than the results in another room. So we are getting to the very specific um you know down to the student level and that's where that individual student report comes in and our link benchmark. So it's a lot of work um all of our cities and get it going kind of thing. earlier before today they are released today. The RC will go home actually with report cards for the winter right again that night code I talked about on the NJ portal and just give you an idea of what that's going to look like when you do see it. This is just a sample um from the NJ DO8 of what that reporting on the list some and strong where your student score kind of falls um on the scale and that claim
035of course being right above the word what do the uh that's what you type into the uh NJ parent portal. All right. Get gives you an idea how did you perform within the reporting concepts. Actually goes through each this is just being an ELA report, but it goes through um each section of how they did. Gets even better because if you're an educator, you have this at your fingertips right now. You can go question by question and determine how many of your students got it correct or incorrect and actually tells you if they got it partially correct or not, what you can work on per standard um within again that grade level. So, this is also a great talking point. You do get to that professional development session of again take a fourth grade teacher
036talking to another fourth grade teacher. Just reply, here's your conversation. Here's your piece that you can have that again that talk. >> I have a question about that. This seems like really easy for teachers and parents to understand. Is Lincoln easy for teachers to understand? Yeah, the you know the reports that are given out especially uh I'll give you the example of a recent parent conferences um where teachers have the opportunity to take out a link report and actually go through what standards is your child weaken where can we improve and again it's also an opportunity which we constantly use within a district but you know this this could be a report that leads into um the opportunity for extra help uh an opportunity to have a conversation with the NRS committee as well. So
037um these do help us in the long run uh determine what supports a child needs especially going whether it's from use UGL as an example into MAC to middle school even from back middle school of course into the high school but um overall I think when it first was established I think it was very difficult to honestly to see what it was and as a parent myself when I'm getting a report home I don't just have a report card in front of me I now have an opportunity to see okay how is my daughter doing especially in in the ELA portion what is she struggling Julian, how can I help her as a parent? >> The link the link it platform um caters more to the staff member than it does to the to the
038parent doesn't have as clean doesn't have as clean of a you know individual student report in link it as you know. So that's a that's a um you know kind of like with a font and panel benchmark that's that's an educator's tool. Link it is an educator's tool in link it you know right here it tells you the type of question in link it we can see the actual question we can see the questions that the that the kids you know missed that standard on you know so the teachers can have little and that's one of the that's one of the great conversations we had um with administrators and staff is that you know and then coming back to the glass half hole there's you know so start strong based on the previous year's learning
039link is giving us you know current standard view. So our teachers can see that here's the top 10, you know, so these 10 standards were awful, but then they can identify and rule out, well, these five are not things that I taught yet, >> right? >> So that's that's validating for the staff members to know, okay, so there's 10 here. Five of them are things that I didn't teach yet. I'm going to teach those and the kids are going to do fine on it next time, but these three I taught, so I got to teach this again. So that's the conversation that we're that we're having. That's what we're pointing out with our staff, with our administrators that up until we're doing that now so that at January 18th they can work so that they
040are going to identify for themselves what are the three you know three or four biggest standards that I already taught that I need to work harder on or do something different. So you know I don't want to say not working hard that was the wrong words but >> no I know what you mean though I have to circle back. Yeah, and that's why I asked because I find the linket to be very difficult to understand as a parent and I'm an educator and I find it difficult to understand the parent report. Um, so I was wondering if it's easier on the teacher side. So, thank you for that. >> And LinkedIn is working on that. We say that to them every time. They they take feedback and they change a little bit, but >> you
041know, like I said, there's still it's more of an educator tool than a than a parent report. >> I appreciate that it's an educator tool. Thank you for explaining that. But doesn't get or get to see the language. >> It was a competition. >> Have they seen them this year or are they not until the I think because we talked about it before conference starters. >> Yeah. Yeah. Our our November conferences our Lincoln benchmark was available prior to so our because we tried ushers now our elementary courts are not ready until next week. But >> but the w the link assessment was available at our conferences. This was not >> start strong. We received the parent the individual student reports the ISRs today and they're going in the mail. >> Okay. >> I have a
042few more questions. Sorry. So the link report that parents can see is what grades? It's uh 2 through 11. Our 12th graders take ELA and it's available for algebra 1, geometry, and algebra 2. >> Okay. And thank you. Are the assessments similar? I mean, I would imagine that's they're standard based >> and they're both standards based. So, they have to be similar, right? So, it's just more practice, >> right? Similar similar type questions, similar standards being uh being being covered >> and all testing on the computer. There's no written >> there is there is written in necessary. >> Okay. Right. >> Thank you very much everybody. >> Thank you. >> Oh good morning. [Music] disagree. >> Thank you, Dr. I don't know if there were any more questions regarding the presentation. Thank you, Dan. Uh
043Barbara, uh we have the board minutes from November 16th and from the uh special meeting on December 1st for the strategic plan. >> I need I'll make a motion to approve the November 16th workshop. Second November 16th executive session is the December special meeting. >> I'll second. >> All those in favor? I >> oppose abstain for December 1st. December 1st president. Um I just wanted to say thank you to the community for coming out for the strategic planning. I think that the last, you know, the last night there was a lot of good conversation each night, each meeting went very well. But I I want to say thank you because we had a consistent group that came out and I think a lot of what came out of that we we knew some of it
044already, but I think we're looking ahead and um we probably will have more discussion on that come January. I met I saw Kathy last night and she said she was getting all of our stuff together and I said probably January. So, um I just wanted to talk about that 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 five minutes for a period of 30 minutes and then time permitting other public comment limited to five minutes per se will be allowed until the 30 minute time period transpires. All members of the public speaking during this public
045comment period are asked to address topics listed in the agenda. All speakers are asked to sign the register provided and use their full name, spell their last name, group affiliation if appropriate, and provide their ashure. 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. 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
046members of the public. Members of the public should consider their comments in light of legal rights of those affected or identified in their comments. Members of the public are reminded that they are immediately responsible and liable for their comments. Anyone wishing to speak under public comment? >> All those in favor? >> Any opposed? >> All right. Before we accept the agenda, just going to make two edits. Page number 10, personnel student affair resolution number 30. This is substitute teachers. There's two names I believe from the agenda. One is Alan Matchk and the second is Damian from paper. And then we have hand carry motion number two under personnel and we have a hand carry number one under education. >> We need a motion to adopt the agenda. >> Move to adopt the agenda. >> Second
047Dave to make all the motions. >> You're going to work on that. You're going to earn your money next. All those in favor? I >> I >> Any opposed? >> Education Mrs. B. Okay. I'd like to move items 1 through eight uh for approval. Second, any discussion? Number 10. >> I'll just say it's really nice to see field trips back on overnight field trips. So that's far. >> Any other discussion? >> I'm guessing they have insurance, right? >> There were some problems with those field trips back. >> We did have a conversation yesterday about this. >> Okay. Um Alex is going you we did talk to >> so we did speak to Max about that or our field trips actually about that. So there is some deposit money down up front. It's uh we we've
048asked to put down the minimum possible um just in case. We're certainly hopeful that it never comes to another March of 2020. But on the other hand, you just never know. So um that little upfront as we possibly can and uh hoping for the best. But we're excited like Kate says for the kids. They uh a lot of kids miss a lot of good trips this last year and a half and we're happy to get back on track with Philadelphia, Washington DC, some of our music trips are back on board. >> I think we approved the band trip to Florida last month maybe. So we're back >> that new that trip for the Philadelphia trip is a new trip for them that we've never done. So that's first for the seventh graders. Um, can I
049ask when the parents will be notified of the trips and that they can start preparing, you know, funds and whatnot? >> If we get it approved tonight, we can start. >> Great. Great to hear. >> Yeah, I'm sure that >> Yeah, it hasn't been approved yet. Once we get it approved tonight, we'll be able to move. >> Great. Any other discussion? Roll call. >> Mrs. Dwire, >> yes. >> Mr. Gino, >> yes. >> Mrs. Stevenson, >> yes. >> Mr. Stillman, >> yes. Mr. Oshinsky, >> yes. >> Mrs. Romeo, >> yes. >> Mr. Conklin, >> yes. >> Mr. O'Brien, >> yes. >> Mr. Vander, >> yes. >> Okay. Move to um approve item number 10 in the hand carries. Second. Any discussion? I I I just want to state that I think this is a wonderful
050grant for their kids and I'm looking forward And I'm hoping that maybe we could get a maybe we get a chance to see some of their their playing time and that and that because this this is a great thing and it sounds to me like the the the students in the high school are very excited about this program. So >> yeah, I think we can definitely share that out. I think once if everything goes through tonight, they get approved then they plan to have a schedule. But we got to watch one unified basketball game when they first started and it was pretty amazing to see. So I'll definitely share the schedule then with the board. >> Yes, that would be great. Any other discussion? If not, roll call. >> Mrs. Yes. Mr. Gino, >> yes.
051>> Mrs. Stevenson, >> yes. >> Mr. Stillman, >> yes. >> Mr. Oshinski, >> yes. >> Mrs. Romeo, >> yes. >> Mr. Conlin, >> yes. >> Mrs. O'Brien, >> yes. >> Mrs. Van Dyke, >> yes. And uh, resolution number nine will be um, voted on after second. >> Thank you. Personnel, student affairs, Mrs. I'd like to make a motion to move items 1 through 37 on the agenda as well as 38 through 44 on the hand. >> Oh, thank you. 45. Thank you, Debbie. >> Second. >> It should be a separate 38. >> I usually do them together, but if you'd like them to be separate, do it separate. What's the board? Right. >> I I'd like to make a motion to um talk about the in carry. >> They didn't decide if they want me
052to do it. >> Oh, it didn't matter. >> Doesn't matter, right? >> That's usually how I do it. I usually don't work together. >> Go ahead. >> So, >> we have it moved now. >> Oh, we need a second. A second. Okay. >> Next. Can I make a motion to um talk about hand carry number two >> in the executive session >> the entire hand. >> Okay. Now wait now I think we're getting a little then maybe we should leave it as a separate >> can I just >> you just make a motion to table 38 39 40 41 42 [Music] >> Okay, sounds good. Uh and you need a second for that motion. One second. >> All those in favor? >> Jason, >> I would like to table number 19. discussion >> after executive
053session. >> Executive session. >> Okay. >> Do I need a second? >> Second. >> All those in favor? I >> All right. So, now we're voting on We didn't have discussion yet, but 1 through 37 >> - 19US >> 19 >> and then we're going to come back out and have executive session to vote on the hand carry. >> Any discussion on the motions that are on the table now? So I a number of resignations with retirements and people leaving the district. I'm just wondering, have we ever done exit interviews with people um that have left the district? Has that happened in the past? Some maybe some around longer. >> Nothing formal. We don't have anything for that. We certainly could have people just to uh tell someone >> and if we if we get
054it in the past who is it that's that would sit in on those >> uh we have it would typically be if I could do it principal do >> we've never done it right >> yeah I'm just wondering if um again most I think many companies do exit interviews with employees right they are employees of the district and I'm wondering if you know some of those employees that leave. If they were able to just kind of talk about their experience here, it would help us figure out things that we're doing well. >> I think that's a I think that's a very good idea because I think uh a number of us on the board have a concern about the number of teachers that we're losing special ed. Um now I see we're losing a science
055teacher. There's got to be something that's not right and we have to find out what it is and we have to fix it >> and that might be a way of doing that. >> And I do I think it's a balance. >> Probably good things. We need to clear those >> Debbie. Um I've in my long career I've never had an exit uh interview and except for the job that I'm losing at the end of this month. Um, and I didn't realize honestly how important it is to really bring your experience and the good, the bad to your administrator, to your supervisor. And I agree. I'm really concerned with what's going on here. And I'm I'm I'm rather surprised though I don't in the years I've been on the board. I know with you ladies
056on the board and everybody else, this is all rather new. We haven't even thought of that and I really think it's it's seriously time to do that so we can really um fix things up or at least I feel like an exit interview an exit interview is a good kind of self evaluation for yourself and and sometimes there's things that you're not going to know as an administrator. You probably will never know if somebody doesn't have that take that time. So I I think that's a great idea. Maybe we can discuss it a little further in would that fall under like personnel you think >> in our personnel committee >> go under personel >> but I think I think that's a good because I think there are some issues >> in education today as a
057whole and maybe there's some ways that we can help address it so that we can maybe lure some more people >> into our district. So yeah, I think that's a great idea. >> I just uh like this, you know, caution alarmist um sort of reactions. I mean, you can't read a headline on a CNBC page without hearing about the great resignation. I think that's a, you know, something sweeping the nation. Unfortunately, everywhere you everywhere you look, regardless of the industry, the great resignation is is a real thing. You know, you pull up the CNBC homepage and, >> you know, that's that's what you look at. So, you know, you just want to caution the the alarmist um sort of response, >> right? >> Oh, I'm sorry. I have two things. >> The first is um
058as a educator who has worked in four different districts, exit interviews I think are a great idea and I think that the leading employee should pick who it could be with the principal, their supervisor, the superintendent. Um as board member, heck no, I don't want to know. They're not so that they can share with the person that doesn't know, >> you know. Um that's the first thing. The second thing is um education's changed. I've been at my career for 22 years and in 22 years when I first started, people did not leave their first job. Today, these new young educators leave. They've been taught to find what's best. So to think back to what it was in the 80s, the 90s, and even the early 2000s is very unfair to look for problems. This is
059what they do, and it's it's a new thing, you know. So, I wanted to throw that out there and just say that, you know, uh sometimes for an educator to move on to another district is a great thing for them. Sometimes it's salary, sometimes it's education, sometimes it's, you know, whatever it is, closer to home seems to be a big one. Um, but I just I just wanted to say that like I think that's really changed in my own career. I've seen that, you know, and and maybe it's an age group thing, but it's definitely different than what it was when I started. Hey, did you have something else? >> Yeah. So, the the great resignation thing I again I think there are some we can find some benefits >> out of that right because
060I think there are people here that um did love what they do and right because of things that have happened right they're just making that change and they can they can bring that to us. I also think that there's an opportunity for us, right, to learn from the folks that K's talking about, the ones coming in and also maybe the ones that are leaving for a different opportunity, right? That that happens every day. um didn't happen as much right in education but now it's happening more but it happens every day I think in many jobs whether it's technical jobs whether it's you know business jobs people people switch companies probably more frequently there than they do in education they're doing it more in education we can probably get some good snippets as to maybe there
061are things that we can do better to keep somebody the next time maybe there are things that people are coming to us or that they really like that we need to help, right, and put out there to other people. So, >> any other discussion? >> I I just want to thank Joyce Cro for her many years of service to our district. She will be greatly missed and I I hope she enjoys her retirement, but she truly is one of them very brightly shining and all that. No other discussion. Time for roll call. Mrs. Stevenson. >> Yes. >> M O'Brien. >> Yes. >> Mr. Bino. >> Yes. >> Mr. Oinsky. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Romeo. >> Seen on 32. Yes. >> Mr. Conklin. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Dwire. >> Yes. >> Mr. Stillman. >> Yes. >>
062Mrs. Van Dyke. >> Yes. We will come back to that after discussion. We are on to operations and fin items number one under operations finance. Second. Any discussion? >> If not, roll confer. >> Mr. Oinsky, >> yes. >> Mrs. Stevenson, >> yes. >> Mr. Dino, >> yes. >> Mrs. O'Brien, >> yes. >> Mr. Stillman, >> yes. >> Mrs. Dwire, >> yes. Mrs. Romeo, >> yes. >> Mr. Conlin, >> yes. >> Mrs. Van Dyke, >> yes. >> I would like to move item number six operation. >> Second roll. >> Mr. Oshinsky. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Stevenson. >> Yes. >> Mr. Greeno, >> Mrs. Dwire, >> yes. >> Mrs. Mr. Stillman, >> yes. >> Mrs. O'Brien, >> yes. >> Mr. Conway, >> yes. This is Romeo. >> Mrs. Items 7 through 10 under operation finance. >> Second.
063>> Any discussion? I I have a question. Um on number seven, um before I ask the question, Dr. Anamon, would you explain what title 4 is? What's title four? >> There's there's a bill for like over $3,700 for tomacin pizza and it's being paid for by title four. >> So title title four is the same account, the same title federal fund that I use to fund digital citizenship night. >> Okay. >> Safe night. And there is money stipulated within title 4 for food in particular to bring families out. >> Okay. I I was under the impression that was kind of financial aid. >> No, that was No, that was for hometown pride night. So for every family, every pre-registered family um who attended that night got a little gift bag, goodie bag, and you know,
064so because we couldn't host the family dinner like we wanted to because of co we were able to at least send the family home with a gift certificate. um to macab pizza so they could have so they could have the family dinner because that's that's really what we were you know with hometown pride with everything we've done with digital ships tonight bracing the family dinner table >> it was awesome >> that was concerned about the title fund used >> so the title funds are earmarked for something different title one title >> I wasn't clear for okay thank you >> could you save that for the exit interview next That was that was a that was a big pizza expense. >> And actually, if I can give a shout out to Mac Pizza. So So Mac
065Pizza worked with us. So So Title 4 funds only paid $15 for each $20 certificate. >> So she gave us $20. She gave every family a $20 certificate, although they only received compensation for 15. >> So I didn't get a chance because I didn't I wasn't able to speak um you know out at that at that event. So thank you for giving me that opportunity. I I didn't get a chance to mention that publicly. >> How many bags were there? >> We we had enough. We we uh we gave out two I think we gave out 220 bags. So 220 bags. It wasn't per kid. That was per family. So many families brought multiple kids. So I think our count was right around close to 100 about 500 people which is typical to our family
066nights. We usually draw between four and 500 people for for those events. So it was >> Yeah, it was it was a great night. Makita is a very big supporter of our we have to be very thankful for a shout out to them. The live stream is out so they can't >> if the live stream is out. >> I know right. >> Hello. Did he say hello for >> 753? >> Okay. Is it now? >> Sing a song, Dave. >> Okay, let's go. Let's go back. Let's go back to that sh We'd like to give a a shout out to Mackin Pizza for sponsoring our our um West Miler Pride tonight, right, with the family. So, there are a lot of good places in town that sponsor the schools and we want to thank each
067one of them for supporting us. Was that our first official board event commercial break? I believe it was. >> Okay. So, back to back to the item on the for the operations and finance items 7 through 10. Any other discussion under that vocore? >> M. Toshinsky. >> Yes. >> Mr. Go. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Stevenson. >> Yes. >> M. O'Brien. >> Yes. >> Mr. Stillman. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Dwire. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Romeo. >> Yes. >> Mr. Conflin. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Van Dyke. >> Yes. >> Policy. Mrs. Romeo. >> I'd like to make a motion to be one through six under policies. >> Any discussion? >> Romeo. >> Yes. Mrs. O'Brien. >> I'm going to answer this if you don't mind. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> This time. >> Oh, thank you.
068>> I'll do it again. >> Okay. Yes. >> Mrs. Stevenson. >> Yes. >> Mr. Ochinsky. >> Yes. >> Mr. Stillman. >> Yes. >> Mr. Conor. >> Yes. >> Mr. Gino. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Dwyer. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Van. >> Yes. >> Committee report. Parks and Recreation. >> No report. Safety. We don't. We haven't had a meeting. We, you know, I was not in the last one, but we don't have anything coming up yet. Uh, superintendent round table. Okay. Um, there were several items that were discussed. One was the grade portal. Um, and and um, they asked that teachers been reminded to enter their grades in a timely manner. And Dr. Anamone uh said that he would speak with the administrators in the building and that the grades should be entered within two weeks. There
069was a question on elementary grading scales and um Dr. Anon explained that they they approach these grades in accordance with the state standards. Um there's a question about postpandemic planning. Um I think you had I think Dr. and Mr. Novak, we're going to discuss this with building administrators. Um, Dr. Mr. Novak will bring this up with building administrators and see if they're noticing any changes. Okay. And they asked about postpandemic policies. Um, Dr. Anamone is going to reach out to the principles and find out um exactly what policy should be in place. And then I have more Um, there was a question about the open house for bus drivers and it looked like it went pretty well. Um, students leaving the district. Has it been pinpointed what West what was Milford is lacking that is
070causing students to leave to go to private school or out of district? Areas that we should be focusing on. And then they asked for an anonymous survey to be sent to families to gauge what would their children to attend the high school out of district. Um and this they felt it would be needed to be sent to families with grades um in four and five. Um Dr. Anon explained that the reason seem to be all over the map, athletic programs not offered at the high school. uh social thing. Middle school guidance counselors speak with families applying out of district for high school and families are asked to give feedback as to why their students will attend high school out of district. There was a question about uh virtual learning during quarantine and uh Dr. McQuay
071spoke about the process of our nurses taking talking through symptoms on a casebyase system basis and again the students can return after 10day quarantine. >> Okay. And then >> which recently changed to 14 just in the morning. >> I know I know I just want to make sure in case somebody >> because orange is we are now orange. We are still together. Everybody, the whole state is Is there a wait time after being sent home to be able to log in for virtual l learning? Do parents need to follow up with guidance for the principal in order to get the link for the Google Meet? Liz, could you explain that? Could you explain that? >> Sure. So, so the system that we have in place is the nurses then are obviously notifying the administration. The
072administration make sure that the teachers are then notified that a student's going to be virtual. middle school and high school, it seems to be more seamless because this the teacher can just stream in the child right throughout the period to Google Classroom. At the elementary or the middle school, it could take up to one day or 24 hours to get that going because let's say something comes in on a Sunday night late and the principal or the staff, they don't see it. The child may not log in on Monday. It might be Tuesday, but it's not counted against the child. They're still coded as virtual, but it it does take one day to get get things set up at the elementary level. And Dan can speak to this more, but the elementary teachers have a
073lot more planning and preparation and individualized instruction that needs to happen. So they need that extra day to plan for that child both asynchronous and synchronous, you know, learning opportunities. So thanks for the one day. >> Okay, questions. There was a question about public relations. Um, was there any update on a pamphlet to hand out to realers? Um, and Dr. explained that it's not going to be a a hard copy. It's going to be a link with a QR code. Um, and it'll it'll highlight all the good things in the district. Um, any any updates on the website and as of now there are none. Okay. Um, there were questions about the Chromebook and Dr. Anamon and Mr. Novak um have a plan to put in place and there questions about n school nurses. Um
074I believe the position at Upper Greenwood Lake has now been filled or not yet. That person at that time did not accept the position. So >> Okay. Okay. And then there was a question about uh teaching typing and um Dr. Mr. Novak explained that they're going to talk about talk about that at professional development in January and February. And now I'm done. >> Thank you. >> County School Board. >> We uh let let's you want to let Debbie >> Okay. >> She came with me last night. >> I see. Okay. I saw you last night. >> Um so the u county school board association meeting was last night. Um topic of discussion was communication between um between all parties, between uh board members, board members to each other, board members to administration, board of education,
075to the public, um and within and and to the families and students and staff. So, it was a very um I think highly educational. I think there's certain things that were recommended or suggested that I think we should really look into. And I know we were sent um the >> the point >> and and uh I thought I um I I really thought that that's something we really need to you know pick up some good stuff in there. >> Yeah. >> The um the gentleman who did the presentation, his name was I think Paul Geller. Geller. Okay. He is director of technology and communication at the Pascat Regional District and he oversees 200 classrooms. And um he pointed out and and I really like this idea. Pointed out that all the schools, not every school
076has a separate um link. Okay, they're all on this one web page and he oversees it. And if a a principal has to put um a newsletter on, it goes on the district web page. If um there's pictures of kids, they put them on. It's a whole thing. He kind of stressed without saying it the importance of branding. And that's something that we as a district have to look into. We don't do enough with our website. It's it's lacking at best. And I think that we need to really really start looking into branding and and brag about ourselves. So that's all I have to say. >> Wire hold that thought. >> Go ahead. >> I'll talk about it later. >> Okay. Yes, we're coming up to you. New Jersey school board again. We finished up
077with our um strategic planning and we should be looking at um all the results recommendations in January. And just thank you again to everyone that participated. Legislative >> technology oversight. Okay, there you go. >> Thank you for that. We had a little a little bit in between, right? But it would have been a good segway. Uh so as everybody knows, we've talked about a couple times that the big thing that we are working on is uh the overhaul of our website. Uh there is a committee that's met. They've met three times. uh we want to overhaul that from the ground up. So we want to look at content, the architecture, the navigational structure, the aesthetics of how things look. They brought in uh so so this committee had websites from all over we actually looked
078at school districts all over the country, right? And um you know local close to home um they looked at some school districts. Tennifly actually has a very nice website set up very well. Uh, you know, we thought, hey, they're probably doing this all on their own. Not they're not. They're using Blackboard, which is pretty standard um, you know, web builder that, uh, most school districts or a lot of school districts use. So, we easily can do that. It was interesting to see that they did have somebody that was in charge of communications and, right, their their web and their portal and all those things. So there there was a centralized job for that specifically um in Tennifly. So we're trying to look and see what parents, students, district, and staff and then the general public,
079right? To your branding point, right? We need to brand for local, right? So what are the parents and what are the students and what are the staff looking for? But we also need to make sure that we are branding so the general public outside of West Milford sees who we are and look at us as you know a choice town that they want to move to. So um that's all being uh considered. The next step is to probably go from that group of some administration, some teachers to branching out and maybe having just a couple people, a couple other people added into the group so we can kind of further uh explore what we're doing. So, um, the, uh, you know, Robert and the team, they're reviewing all the information currently on our site. And
080there is there's a lot of old information that really we can just kind of wipe down. >> And at the end of the day, we are we're likely going to just build from the ground up. So, we're going to figure out what kind what information we should carry over, but it's not something where we're going to take everything and just plop it into, you know, a new funl looking, fancy looking website. It's going to start all new. So, that I I like to hear that from Dean, from Alex and Robert, because we do really need to do that. Again, on the flip side, we don't necessarily need to reinvent the wheel. There are companies out there that will provide us templates that will help us do it very well, right? Tenify is doing it very
081well um with those templates, but it does take a lot to keep up a website. There's quite a bit that has to be done. Remember, we have 3,200 plus students. We have six elementary schools, right? They all have to kind of maintain that on their own. I don't know that we would be able to have a singular person handle the website and communications for us. We just we just don't have the dollars that maybe a town like Tampa has. >> So those are all good things that that are coming. Um and I think that uh you know this is a remember it's a work in progress. We kind of put that goal out there to have this in place the start of next school year. So, we've got some weight. We got a ways to
082go before we get there. And we want to like that's purposeful, right? We don't want to just turn things over quickly. So, I think that that's good that we're looking at it in in that way. Um, they did talk about desktops um in the schools. So, we do have some desktop PCs in the schools. Some of them are pretty old. They they've reached kind of like their end of life. and you know what we're going to do to um maybe pull some out of service or redeploy other ones that you know maybe aren't being used in the schools of disease they're in now we'll see they're going to run some uh they're looking at uh running some additional fiber so some of that has to do with um our phone system right so we want
083to get a new phone system in the schools >> how long have we been talking about the phone system >> eight okay we cut that in half so eight years We've been talking about getting a new phone system, right? There are things we have to do to prepare to to bring that new phone system in. Um the phone system replacement go they're looking there's a there is a phone committee. Um Robert's got spreadsheets that kind of show where phones will go, how those things will work. So more on that uh for second week of January. That stuff will start to get a little more. Look, I I have a question about that because I thought this year was going to be the year that we worked on the infrastructure. Is that what we're doing now?
084>> That's what the fiber is. >> And before you do infrastructure though, you have to know where you're going to be putting those. >> So um and the more information that um Robert accumulates, the more we're able to um break it down so that we know what direction we need to go in. We had that conversation this morning at his budget meeting and um there there are other options because of the technology continuing to evolve. So, we're getting closer, but I think that between this year we have money set aside and next year the 22 23 budget. I think next year you're going to have a new phone system. >> Good. Good. That's it. >> The township board of education committee. We we have no meeting set at this time. Um West Milford Municipal Alliance.
085There wasn't a meeting last night. >> Whoever knows Go ahead. >> Um they are looking for Pay County um mental health board members. Um they asked if we could share the flyer with everyone. I printed some flyers. I can email it to board members, but if there's anyone else, um the purpose of the P County Division of Mental Health Board, um is to provide input on specific mental health needs in the county, promote conversation and engagement for mental health education, prevention strategies, interventions, and ongoing treatment services, services as support to those with mental illness, and identify gaps and foster development of mental health services. Um, in order to join the board, members must be a legal resident or have worked or have worked in Pay County. Um, and it was appointed by the Pain County
086Board of Commissioner serve a three-year term. Uh, so that flyer, um, they're, you know, asking if you know anyone to please pass along the information. Other than that, if they're in a new grant cycle, um, discussion of the programs for schools, um, the same ones, the fifth, um, I think sixth grade is we're not buying it. Fifth grade is heroes and cool kids. Um, and I'm missing one. What is this lead? Oh, lead is fifth grade. Six is we're not buying it. And this is heroes. Yeah, that's it. Thank you. Old business. Is there any old business? Um, okay. I have a few things. The first is, well, Hometown Pride Night. We did talk about it. It was absolutely amazing. Uh, so much fun. Just I I can't talk enough about every single room we
087went in. Was exciting. The parents had a good time. The kids had such a good time. Um, just really kudos to everyone involved. It was amazing. Thank you. Um I wanted to all business kind of understand I know things are always changing with the quarantining and with co uh Liz maybe you could like clear some things for me just um if let's say a family has multiple children in their family. >> Okay. and one child tests positive, >> but the other children are vaccinated, they don't have symptoms, they still go to school. >> Vaccinated. So, the close contact is vaccinated, correct? >> Yes. The siblings are vaccinated. >> So, if the close contact is vaccinated and they are not showing any signs of COVID, they can return back to school. If a parent requests if
088some of their children are positive and the other kids are vaccinated and they don't would we help would we allow siblings to go virtual even if they're not like with symptoms some families are then getting other children in the household that are vaccinated let's say tested for a PCR test okay >> they while they're awaiting results they may be quarantining even though they're not showing symptoms so it's kind of on a household basis but then those conversations happen with the school nurse and then the school nurse walks them through that and kind of analyzes like what's happening in the situation that the the parents and then they talk through that but they don't force anyone to necessarily come to school especially because right now as you know even those individuals that are vaccinated are also
089showing up as positive. So we, you know, if you rewind maybe to the end of the summer, those families would have, you know, sent their child right away or maybe even gotten the gotten the children tested at a later time. But now I've noticed that the families are a little more conservative in wanting to make sure that the vaccinated students are still clear to come back. >> So I heard you say a few things. So they should email the nurse and go through the nurse to ask all these questions. Parents and families should ask the nurse these questions. So, usually those questions are handled through the nurse directly. Okay. Not even always through email. Even if somebody if somebody emails the nurse, the nurse like makes a phone call back. >> Okay. And then I
090think I heard you say we're not forcing those like siblings maybe that are that don't have the symptoms, are vaccinated to necessarily be in the building. We may allow them to be virtual if there's multiple people in their family that have it and we if the parents are being conservative. >> Right. Right now, because we're in the high zone, it's not as black and white as when you're in a more lowrisk activity level. But because the past, you know, since Friday, we've been implementing the new practices, that's why there's definitely even an increase in conversations and there's more kids that are excluded right now just because of the the nature of the whole state. >> Yeah, >> I'm glad Kate brought it up because it is a confusing time and I think families are concerned
091too because the holidays are coming up. nobody, you know, we want to have somewhat normal holidays. So, I think it's a question that if people are tuning in, it's helpful to clear the air from you as the person who's in charge of that. Thank you. >> Anything else under older? >> Oh, she is. >> Oh, she does. Okay. I I guess that's it. Thank you. Sorry. >> Okay. >> I had one thing. Um you mentioned the calendar that we're going to amend the and 21 22 next year's calendar >> 223 >> 22 23. Are we also looking at some of the other holidays that maybe are not on the calendar? Are we going to be >> so the only the only changes needed were the NJA convention the original dates were the 3rd 4th of
092November it's actually going to be the 10th and 11th >> is there a way that we can look at adding more holidays specifically Russashana to the calendar >> so we we brought that to committee a few months ago and the decision was made just to make this particular change >> the process would be if the board wishes to do that we certainly could um The sooner the better. I don't want to make too many changes. >> Yeah. Too many amendments. Sure. That's why I'm bringing it up because you mentioned making one amendment. I thought it might be a good time for a discussion. >> November is always a difficult month when they're looking at the calendar because we have so many days over November. So, um, honestly, in hearing the change, I was kind of
093happy because now we have Veterans Day to the 10th and the 11th. The 11th is Veterans Day. So, it's like two holiday. But I guess we could bring it back to committee and discuss it if you'd like. It's up to the board if you want that committee, but anybody want to take it back to I think that our should have rash off. I think we should discuss it. >> Does anybody else on the board feel as though should we discuss having rash off for our Jewish families? I think we I think we have it to seven months. So, as far as for myself, I don't know about anybody else. I feel like we've already put it out there. >> And if it doesn't get changed on the calendar, it is an excuse essence or it's
094not. >> Oh, yeah. That's >> And I know the one year it was like a >> a first day. So, you know, >> this year Rashana was the first day of school. >> I don't think it's like that on a calendar again. It's September 25th. >> And so maybe that's what we can really be cautious of in the future is that students, especially in our high level, high high level classes, want to show up on the first day, get their syllabus, get their, you know, um, and I know that that was an issue for a few families that their children did not want to miss the first day of school and yet it was a religious holiday for their families. So that puts some people in our community in a conundrum of do you follow
095your holiday you know your family tradition and your cultural religious holidays which we would want them to do that and yet do you miss your first day of school. So I think we need to be conscious of that maybe moving forward. So is there a way that we can bring it up in committee where we can look at what the first day of school is and if there are any holidays that fall on that deck >> whether it's Dvali or Rashashana or any of it >> that's something I think we need to check on as a board >> to be cautious and understanding of our community. There's new people coming in. This town is growing. New houses are going up all over. I think we need to be aware when our first day is and
096what holidays fall on that day. >> That I would like to >> Why don't you look at the calendar? Maybe send us an email. >> Any other old business? If not, >> I need a motion. >> Second. >> All those in favor? new business. >> Dr. Have a flag here. Before I read this resolution, Dave, I would just like to say on behalf of the board and really the entire West Milford school community. I would like to thank you for your service. Um, you're the consmate professional. You do everything that's asked of the board. Uh, in sports, they would call you a glue guy, but you do a little bit of everything. You hold the team together. and you're going to be missed. So, on behalf of our students, our staff, our parents, and my
097our colleagues and your colleagues here on the board, um I would like to say thank you for your three years of service. Um and best wish, best luck uh in your future endeavors. >> Thank you, appreciate that. [Applause] So, our resolution here, I'll read it and I'll give you a flash. Whereas, Mr. David Oshinsky has served as a prominent member of the West Milford Board of Education from January 2019 until 2000 December 2021. And whereas Mr. Oshinski has diligently served on and chaired the negotiations and operations and finance committees served on the education and policy committees and was a liaison for the legislative committee and whereas Mr. Oshinsky held uppermost the welfare of our students in his decisions and served with great skill and dedication and whereas his service on the board has brought him
098the respect of his colleagues on the board, the administrative staff and the teaching and support staff. Now therefore be resolved that the board of education on behalf of the grateful community publicly acknowledges and expresses its sincerest appreciation to Mr. Oshinski for his outstanding contributions to the West Lumber Township Public School District. It be further resolved that this resolution be spread upon the minutes of the workshop regular meeting of the board of education of December 14th, 2021 and presented to Mrs. D. >> I need a motion and a second. >> All those in favor? I [Applause] Dan over here. >> Was a quick three years. quick. Uh during that time there were some accomplishments within the district to maxim programs to put in place and more than anything else dealing with the challenges of co 19.
099I think with that one we needed the wisdom of Solomon and the higheros. Uh well I think I wish we could have done more about the state funding formula. We had started down on that then knocked that one out. Uh my professional career over the past 40 years I've worked with and served on many boards and my role as administrator of nonprofit health and human service organizations as well as serving on boards of nonprofits that I as a volunteer on. uh from this experience I can really state unequivocally that I have seldom seen a level of dedication and professionalism from both the board administrative staff and the teaching staff that I've seen um during this term and I really uh really been a pleasure working with everyone it's been a rewarding experience and I'm thankful
100that I've had the opportunity to serve thank you [Applause] Thank you again, Dave. It's been a pleasure. It really has. >> Sorry. >> Any anybody have anything else under your business tonight? Okay. If not, I need a motion to close your business. I move. >> We're going to let >> I'll second. >> All right. Well, those in favor. >> Any opposed? Okay. >> Public comment. This portion of the meeting is open to members of the public having a legitimate interest in the action of the board for the purpose of addressing any subject matter pertinent to and directly related to the operations of the listener proposed school. 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
101period of 30 minutes and then time permitting other public comment limited to five minutes per speaker will be allowed until the time transpired. All speakers are asked to sign the register provided their full name, spell their last name, group affiliation if appropriate, and provide their address. Issues raised by members of the public may or may not be responded to by the board. All comments will be considered and a response will be forthcoming if and when appropriate. The board asks that members of the public be courteous and respectful of their rights of the rights of the 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 rules of New
102Jersey. 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 way 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. Anyone wishing to speak under public comment? If not, >> seeing none, I make a motion to close public. >> All those in favor? I >> Okay, we need a motion for executive session at 8:31. I move to executive session for the purpose of discussing personnel appointments, resignations, current litigation matters, special education matters, negotiations, HIVs, and matters of attorney client privilege. The executive session minutes will not be released until such time as the privilege of confidentiality is no longer
103applicable. 30 minutes for 30 minutes. We should be back out 30 minutes. All those in favor I >> mean separate and then the hand I will put it together. >> Okay. >> I'd like to call the meeting back to order. Can we get a roll call, please? >> Sure. >> Mrs. Romeo >> here. >> Mrs. Stevenson >> here. >> Mr. Silman >> here. >> Mrs. Dwire >> here. >> Mr. O'Brien >> here. >> Mr. Greeno >> here. >> Mr. Oinsky >> here. >> Mr. Con. Mr. Conlin >> here. >> Mrs. Van Dyke >> here. >> Uh, Mrs. Stevenson. Um, >> I'll take it from here. I'd like to make a motion to move number 19 on the agenda >> of personnel. You need a second. >> Okay. Any discussion? If not, roll call. >> Mr.
104Conklin, >> yes. >> Mrs. Dwer, >> no. >> Mr. Gino, >> Miss O'Brien, >> no. >> Mr. Mr. Shinsky, >> no. >> Mrs. Romeo, >> yes. >> Mrs. Stevenson, >> yes. >> Mr. Stillman, >> no. >> Mrs. Van Dyke, >> no. >> Motion fails. >> Mrs. Stevenson, >> I'd like to make a motion to move hand carry number two, items number 38 through 45 under personnel. discussion. >> If not, roll. >> Mrs. Stevenson, >> yes. >> Miss O'Brien, >> yes. >> Mr. Greeno, >> yes. >> Mr. Oinsky, >> yes. >> Mrs. Romeo, >> yes. >> Mr. Conlin, >> yes. >> Mrs. Dwire, >> yes. >> Mr. Stillman, >> yes. Mrs. Bend. Yes, Mrs. Dwire. Okay. I'm um like to move to approve uh the recommendation of superintendent in the following resolutions. Um report 2022 M3
105as substantiated, 2022 M5 is unsubstantiated, 2022 M6 as substantiated, and 2022 H2 as substantiated. >> Second, >> any discussion? Roll call. >> Mrs. Dwire, >> yes. >> Mrs. Stevenson. >> Yes. >> Mr. Gino. >> Yes. >> Mr. Oshinsky. >> Yes. >> M O'Brien. >> Yes. >> Mr. Stillman. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Romeo. >> Yes. >> Mr. Conlin. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Van Dyke. >> Yes. >> Dave. I'll make a motion at 911. >> I'll second. >> All those in favor? >> I. I'd like to wish everybody happy holidays and safe safe December. Stay healthy.