001the order. And if we could have a moment of silence, please. Please rise for the flag salute. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. [Music] In accordance with the provisions of the Open Public Meeting Act, a public notice of this meeting has been sent to board members, all district schools, the Herald News, the Suburban Trends, The Record, The Messenger, West Milford Town Hall, the County Superintendent Office, The Board attorney, Cable Vision of Warwick, and West Milford TV7. 77 and posted in the administration building. Copies of the board meeting calendar resolution were provided to all local media, town hall, township, library, and all district schools. Roll call. Mrs. Francisco, >> Mrs. Romeo
002>> here. Mrs. Stevenson >> here. >> Mr. Con here. >> Mrs. Dwer >> here. >> Mr. Mrs. O'Brien >> here. >> Mr. Oinsky >> here. >> Mr. Stillman. Mrs. Van >> here. >> Dr. Anaman. >> Yes. Good evening everybody. Welcome to our May regular meeting. First item on the superintendent report. Um this is sort of our catchup now as we come when we come out of the global pandemic. There are some catchup items we have to uh get around to taking care of. One of those is one of our juniors at West Milford High School, James Gammon. He is here this evening. Last year on March 4th, 2020, which is probably right before the pandemic hit, he earned his Eagle Scout rank. However, we have not had an opportunity to honor him this evening. For
003his Eagle project, James created a safe space for campfires at the New Jersey camp for blind children at Camp Marcella in Rockaway. The camp needed movable benches because of the many campers that use wheelchairs. Prior to his project, the end of a camp session would host a campfire in an open, large, and flat grassy area near a lake. Campers would enter the area by walking or moving their wheelchairs from their cabins and nearby parking lot. This created a potential hazard for the campers. Also, heavy bleachers were carried from a nearby field for additional seating in the area. James installed a fire pit in the open area and replace the need for bleachers with movable benches that are easier to transport. His project will be enjoyed by many generations of campers to come. Mr. Gamman, come
004up here. We do have a certificate on behalf of the board of ed and a very thankful community. [Applause] Thank you. Now, >> sure. Congratulations. [Applause] James, you do not have to stay for the rest of the board meeting if you so choose. You're free to go. Thank you again. Uh, next up, our end of the year update. Um, as you know, we do report COVID cases as they occur in our district, either from a student or a staff member. We usually just report them as an individual. We typically don't differentiate publicly. We know primarily who the person who tested positive is, but on your desks and in the back room in the back of the media center for our guests. We do chart COVID positive cases uh by month. And obviously the May data
005is not complete yet because we still have a week left to go. But as you can see the COVID cases are decreasing in the district um from an all from a high of the winter. They've gone dramatically lower. Most of that is due to we believe vaccinations although there are other theories about seasonality and other items. So we will continue to update that moving forward. Also on your desk and in the back of the media center is the most recent travel and masking clarifications for K to2 schools. This is a handout. This is the most recent handout from the Department of Health and it's dated May 19th. Um so it's got a lot of links on here. When you look at it online, these links are highlighted. You can hyperlink to an additional article um
006from the CDC or from an executive order. But for the rest of the school year, we do wear masks indoors. We know it's been relaxed for outdoor activities, um, recess, fizz day class, things like that, but for indoor schools for the remainder of this year, uh, we will be wearing masks. Um, there have been a lot of talk about next year already, but we're going to try to finish this school year first and then on June 17th, maybe the following week, we'll start planning for the fall in uh, in earnest. Um, if you remember last year from between May to September, the guidance we had probably changed, I don't know, 8, 10, 12 times. Um, so it's possible whatever we have out there now may change multiple times before September. So, we're not going to
007get too deep into planning for September 2021. We're just going to close out, our focus now is on closing out the 2020 2021 school year. And we're actually shortened it up this year. A few board meetings ago, we shortened our calendar. So, we'll be getting out uh the middle of June this year, which we think the extra time will benefit our students and our families and our staff. Uh and next up, congratulations to our West Mil 2021 West Milford High School valadictorian and saludiatoran. Our saludiatoran is Axel Malletch and our val valadictorian is Brianna Hazens. So congratulations to both of them. You'll be hearing more from them at our high school graduation on June 15th. Wanted to give them a shout out here. And lastly, since our next meeting isn't until after school dismisses, um
008I want to thank our student rep this year, uh Miss Amanda Gerald. Uh, I can speak on behalf of the board and saying you've been a wonderful pardon this year. We've enjoyed having you at our meetings. It's been a school year like no other and you will be missed and you're welcome back any time here. So, we do have a small plaque for you. I'd like to read it here. Uh, presented to Amanda Gerald in appreciation for her service to the West Milford Board of Education as student representative for the year 2020 2021. [Applause] I think [Music] your teeth. Okay. And Miss Gerald, do you have a student report? Your final one of the year. >> Amanda Gerald, student rep um student council president. As the end of the school year is approaching, so it's
009a senior's graduation. So, following the steps of last year's senior class, we're doing a drive-thru graduation on June 15th at Warwick and our caps and gowns have been given out this week. So, that's exciting. Senior prom is also only nine days away on June 3rd at the Valley Regency Clifton. The tables have been made and the bids are also being given out this week and so seniors are looking forward to a fun night as a whole class. This year's play of Into the Woods just came to a close after the cast and crew have worked non-stop for the past six weeks, which was a huge time crunch compared to the time they usually have from December to March to prepare. However, they were able to pull off an an outstanding show. The music was written
010by Steven San >> who is a well-known composer supplying the cast with challenging music that they tackled with grace. Overall, the cast and crew are extremely satisfied and proud with how everything came out. I also want to say congratulations to those who were recently inducted into the foreign language honor societies. A big shout out also goes to all those who participated in the district arts festival. Spring sports are coming to an end and the teams have been working hard and embracing their time that they've got to play together since their spring seasons were lost last year. Boys volleyball team is currently 17-1. They won their conference yesterday and are playing on Saturday in the county championship. They are then moving on to playing to state which they are currently ranked fifth. So, congrats to boys
011volleyball. The boys lacrosse team has been having a successful year as well with a 13-2 record and plan on coming out strong in their upcoming state games. Um, and as well the girls team is currently seven and six and also preparing for their states. Girls track and field have been very successful and hitting a lot of PRs in recent meets. They're excited for their county championship this Saturday, so good luck to them. And the boys team is working hard as well and excited for states and counties as well. The softball team has a record of 6 and 11 with an extremely young team. There's a lot of good to come in the future as the team grows. Baseball has a winning record at the moment of seven and 11 and hope to continue that as
012they finish their last few games. In golf, the boys team went six and 15 and the girls played second in county and had had a really fun time together this year. As the spring sports come to an end, we want to thank everyone who was able to allow sports to be held this year despite the challenges that came with it. In addition, student council has been working tirelessly on senior choice and was just recently notified of the good news that is allowed to be hosted as an in-person event. This event for the seniors is planned for f Friday June 11th at 7:30 where award dinners aware award winners will be announced. In addition to that we have selected a new executive council. So, I'd like to say congratulations to Abigail Weiss, who was going to
013be here and then her lacrosse game got rescheduled to a later time, so she unfortunately could not come, but um who is going to be named as next year's student council president and student representative, and I know she'll do a great job. The plans for Spectacular have also already begun, and they're excited to be able to pull off this event once again. Thank you again for allowing me to speak through the year. It's been a great experience and an honor to represent the West Milford High School student body. I think everyone is anxious and excited to wrap this year up and start fresh. Any questions? >> Thank Thank you, Amanda. It's been a pleasure having you. >> Amanda, do you know how many um bids were sold for the prom? >> I don't. >> Okay.
014I was just wondering. >> I hope everybody I think I think it's good numbers. Good. Well, we've loved having you here and we wish you well in your future. >> Thank you. >> Anything else? >> That's all. >> Okay, Mr. Novak. >> Thank you. Um, tonight I'm just going to um I guess explain to the full board and to um you know, everyone watching at home about some changes to our traditional summer programs. Uh in the past we've always run a summer literacy program that was for uh students in grades um current grades kindergarten through three. Last year we expanded the ages for that program and we invited our um you know K through current K through four students. Uh this year we were able to expand it. Um, in the past we've also only
015invited students who were um who uh attend the title one uh schools in our district um due to the funding that pro that um that we use for this program. Uh this year similar to last year we were able to invite all six elementary schools. Um we've also extended the day and we gave an optional uh extended day for all student all all participating students to um get an extra additional hour of math and also to participate in a social uh emotional learning um you know fun recess uh type of process with our with some of our fizzed teachers. Um last year we set a record with participation with 103 and this year we have 140 registered students for our uh summer program and that is from July 6th through July 29th. Of that 140
016who've registered for our summer literacy day uh just about half of them chose to stay for the extended day. So we we gave an option to stay. We didn't want we didn't want people who have been traditionally part of our program to decline it this year because they liked the existing schedule. They you know wanted to get out at at 11:30 like they had in the past. So we added as an add-on and we're just really you know really happy that you know we've got about 70 I think we're about 77 students who are going to stay for the full day and 77 students is um you know year-over-year probably our our typical numbers for what our whole program would have been. So, uh, I think parents know and we've talked about it a lot
017all year about, um, the toll that the pandemic has taken, especially on our little ones. Um, and I think many families have responded and and have been eager to to get some of that extra instruction that we're able to provide this summer. So, um, we're we're really excited about that process. Um in addition to extending our um summer literacy program to include math and and social emotional learning, uh we've created for the first time we've done a um more of a summer camp type style with our STEM camp. Uh we offered it to all district students who are current uh current kindergarten through fourth grade. Um uh just because of our we're housing it at Camp Vicus. So, we're taking our staff, taking many of our um our science teachers. We've got middle school, high
018school, and elementary science teachers who are going to participate in the program. Uh which is great. We've got, you know, 10 staff members, a nurse, our supervisor of uh our supervisor of science. Um we've got a couple class aids, and we're going to run a camp at Camp Vicus using our staff. uh due to the logistics of of the of the camp and the size of our staff and and the area we can use for them, we had to cap it unfortunately at around 110 students. Um we do have a waiting list. So as uh as we get notification from people who have who have registered that they can't participate, we're going to go to the list and and um add students from that if if we can. Uh it's going to be an exciting
019week. We've we've done a a site visit to Campus to start our planning process and we've got numerous site visits uh going forward, including um planning time and and the ability for our staff members to uh to go in and and start, you know, getting their hands on on the environment there and and plan some some great activities for our kids. So, we're we're really excited about that. And we also have our extended school year program for our uh special education program. I don't know if Dr. McCrae wants to um say a few words. >> Sure. Yeah, we we will be running that program um similar to in past years. We do plan to run it in person. Any parent that's still requesting virtual in the summer can just reach out to us and we
020will obviously provide a modified type of a program. Uh we do plan to still have our sites here at Westbrook School, at Maple Road School, at the high school for both our man and our high school program and Highlander Academy. So, by now, if your child was eligible for extended school year through their IEP, parents should be aware of that, have already have had a conversation with their case manager, and then shortly they'll fill out some forms for it. We do have some students with IEP that are also attending the the reading and the literacy program. Um, I was happy to see that we did have some students with special needs also sign up for the the camp, which I appreciate Mr. Novak um, you know, making sure that he's including and just really welcoming
021students with all different types of in all the programs that he's also offering. Thank you. >> Thank you. And that's my update for summer programs. I just also wanted to um share with the full board about a change that's taking place um in regard to student teachers in the district. A number of years ago, the uh state passed a requirement for student teachers to uh record themselves in uh in the classroom and those recordings were used to um you know for those student teachers to work with their supervisor from the university and you know go over the lesson and and you know had a had a real educational purpose. Unfortunately, at the time that they um started that, there was concern about student privacy and those videos being uh videos of of our students and
022students, you know, around the state um in their classrooms and and you know, with security and and the types of uh concerns that people have. Um number of districts, West Milford included, chose to not accept student teachers if there was a recording uh if there was a recording requirement. Um so we've stayed we've stayed uh with that guideline and we haven't been accepting. We we've been requesting a letter from a university explicitly stating that they're not going to be requiring recordings for their uh for their student teachers. Uh but the state recently updated that um updated that requirement and universities now are providing us with you know a uh statement of uh of assurance that the recordings that they are going to be taking are um you know for the explicit use of the teaching
023candidate and the university supervisor. So they're not being stored, they're not being uploaded, they're not being shared. Um and they're, you know, they're um you know, pledging to the privacy of these uh of these recordings. Uh so we we check for for that before we place our students and um you know, so we are now what we discussed at ED committee um ready to accept student teachers and just making sure that we get those uh you said statement of assurances from the university for how those how those videos are being used. Uh we also foresee once we um you know put some of these student teachers in place having a process to notify parents in the class that this is something that is part of the uh student teaching process so that if there is
024a recording that needs to take place for the students observation that a parent could have the um choice to to not have their student to be part of that uh part of that recording. So um so we are going to uh continue we are going to begin accepting student teacher student teachers going forward who need to need to make a recording. >> That's it. >> And that's it. >> Thank you. >> This is Francisco. >> Yes. We have the board minutes from April 7 27 and the executive consideration. I need a motion. Make a motion to approve the following board of education meeting minutes. April 27th, 2021 regular budget public budget hearing meeting. April 27th, 2021 executive session. >> All those in favor? >> I president's report. Um, I attended the arts festival and I
025don't know if anybody else had the, you know, had a chance, but it was just wonderful. I I can't I can't tell you how great it was to see everybody out there to hear the music and to know that they had very little time together. I don't think they practiced together, but the three bands when they played together, it was just it felt like normal. That's what that's what all I can say is it just was wonderful and so enjoyable for all of our students and I think it really was a good uplifting night for everyone. So I want to thank everybody who participated because it it truly was a good community event and I I I always look forward to it and I this year they did not disappoint. Um I did attend the
026play this past weekend. I think they did a wonderful job. That's another thing where I have to say it brings us another step closer to things being normal. And the show was fantastic. And the kids just our students were just phenomenal. I I I always say that every year, but you sit there and you just cannot imagine that these young people are high school students because they're they they put so much work and they're so talented. And we have to be very thankful for what we have here in West Milford. Um we're starting the stages of our uh new strategic plan which we had put off from prior to the pandemic. It was supposed to start. It will be starting in September. There will be three meetings uh September, October and December 1st. Dr. Anamon
027will be sending out um a honey well to all the parents and and stakeholders here in town if they want to participate in the strategic planning. There will be meetings set up and more information about what needs to needs to come about. We're a little behind, but that's because of the pandemic. Other than that, I just want to say I'm glad that we're moving in the right direction, and I'm looking forward to graduation, and I'm looking forward to the school year coming to a close so that everybody can start refreshed and get a new get energized over the summer. [Music] Uh time for 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
028speak prior to the meeting will be recognized by the chair first. Each speaker will be given five minutes for a period of 30 minutes and then time permitting other public comment limited to five minutes per speaker will be allowed until the 30 minute time period transpires. All members of the public speaking during this public comment period are asked to address topics listed in the agenda. While speakers are asked to sign and register, sign the register provided and to give their full name, spell their last name, group affiliation if appropriate, and provide their address. Issues raised by members of the public may or may not be responded to by the board. All comments will be considered and a response will be forthcoming if and when appropriate. The board asks that the members of the public be
029courteous and respectful of the rights of other individuals when speaking. Specifically, comments regarding students and employees of the board are discouraged, and the board and the administration will not respond to them. Students and employees have specific legal rights afforded to them by the laws of New Jersey. The board is not responsible and is not liable for any comments made by members of the public. Members of the public should consider their comments in the light of the legal rights of those affected or identified in those comments. Members of the public are reminded that they are legally responsible and liable for their comments. Anyone wishing to speak on the agenda come forward. Your name. Hi, my name is Justine Healey and my children go to Paradise Null. Did you say you needed my address? >> Yes. 49
030Hilltop Road, New Foundland. >> You could sign that. That is there a pen there for us? >> Yes, there is. >> Okay. You could do that when you're done speaking if you'd like. >> Okay, that'd be great. So, I've never attended a board meeting before, but I'm excited to to do that. Um, I thought I was alone on some of my thoughts being here tonight, but I have a pretty strong group of parents and following behind me and many that aren't here tonight and can't speak, so I'm speaking on behalf of them. Um, this is in regards to guidance for the schools and the upcoming school year. I know that you said that would be discussed at a later date. Um, is it for an item that's on the agenda? because this part is for
031agenda items only. >> Um, no, this is in regards to guidance for the school year, the rest of the school year end September and some concerns that parents have. I called and they said I could speak openly tonight. >> I I mean I is the board okay with letting her speak prior because we sit through the home. Okay, go ahead. >> It's it's a bipartisan, you know, conversation. So, I understand that obviously you haven't gotten guidance for September yet, but some parents are concerned. So, we are going to be coming to more of these meetings and hopefully we can all work together and with Dr. Enamone and Mr. Novak and the board. Um, the first concern being um Governor Murphy has already come out today and said that he is going to require masks for
032the children for September. Um and that's because they cannot be vaccinated. Um many parents are concerned and we can talk about it at a later date that there'll be some segregation in the school and that's going to be uh an upset and a problem for many of the parents because they feel that if they don't choose to vaccinate their kids for CO 19, they'll be in a mask. And how do you tell a child that they have to wear a mask as a scarlet letter to all the other children? So, we want that to be addressed for the upcoming school year, whether amongst yourselves, privately, with us. Um, another thing that is a concern, uh, not really a concern, a favor to ask of the, um, of the board or Mr. Random. We have several
033letters that were sent to us today from other um board of ed members and um across districts all over New Jersey and um superintendent that have written letters on behalf of the parents and students that are concerned to Governor Murphy. We're asking kindly that maybe you can do that too um and write him and show concern and support for our feelings on the masks for kids. Um, we were told to follow the science and we've done that and we were told the kids were not the at risk group as you spoke of tonight. Cases are going down. Um, we're being told we can bring our children out in public as a Friday without masks to Target to grocery shop to family functions and then we have to tell them to put them on for school.
034So, we need we need to have a conversation about that. and we're wondering if you could please write a letter on behalf of us to Governor Murphy, Lake Tom's River, Randolph, Roxbury, and other superintendents that are doing that. Also, we want to make sure too that um I know uh Phil Murphy had put out some road the road back guidance for schools. And we want to make sure because I guess it was never really um spoken clearly to other parents in the district. They were unaware about it um or they weren't honored with this. Um, children with IEPs or autism spectrum ASD are not required to wear masks in school. And also, if they have a medical exemption, that would inhibit their health. So, I'm asking if you guys are going to honor medical exemptions
035and IEP exemptions for those children. Um, because legally in the guidance from the state, they should have been honored all year and going forward. Um, and then my last point is, sorry, I'm pulling it up. Thank you. So, we have religious exemptions that are granted by the state of New Jersey um for vaccination that the school board must um adhere to and accept. And we need to make sure too going forward that for this school year they will still be accepted when it comes to the CO 19 vaccine and that there's no segregation with those either. So these are all questions and things that we need to discuss for we're concerned. There's a lot of parents. I mean hundreds. I have group messages going all throughout the town with parents and they've asked me to
036speak on behalf of them. So um many of them are upset that they weren't aware they had medical exemptions for their kids this whole year for masks and IEP ones for sensory issues and other issues and were told that their kids had to stay in a mask. So going forward, maybe we can work together on that. >> I Well, I what I would say is what are you are you saying? >> Yeah, now I am. >> What I would say is Dr. Annabone should probably reach out and maybe have a meeting with you. I don't know that we can work it out in a five. >> Yeah, of course. >> And and since things are changing in the state, >> they do change often. I understand that. And there's going to be a lot more
037of us coming to the meetings and and keeping up with this, tracking this, and making sure that things are done fairly because how do you tell one child, oh, he's not vaccinated, he has to wear a mask in school. That's going to be a moral problem, a legal problem. There's going to be hip investigations. >> Maybe maybe what you could do is reach out to Dr. Anamone or, you know, and we could get immediate. >> Yeah, we just want to bite it now before the school year >> ends and begins. I think that would be the area where you could talk it out. >> Good. >> I do just want to clarify one thing only because it's it's a recorded meeting that we have had individual um families and parents that have come forward with
038medical documentation or because of the child's disability. And >> I know cuz I know I did and it wasn't recognized. >> Okay. Because I I'm not sure this of the situation, but if anyone was ever if anyone had to challenge that, that's something that then can come to my desk. >> Okay. Can I have your name, please? >> Yeah. I'm Dr. Liz or Elizabeth McUade. >> Okay. Thank you. >> And then director of special services. So much so that if just so that as you're talking to parents if there's any concern with that I I'd be happy to talk to those parents. >> That's excellent. I mean a lot of them were unaware or they weren't even told that they were they had access to those exemptions and that's where some of the frustration comes
039out. >> I I think Liz should be part of that meeting. >> That would be excellent. Yeah. >> She Dr. McQuade is in charge of >> Yeah. So any of the parents that have concern can be a part of the meeting. That would that would be excellent in a private meeting. >> Okay. So, thank you. >> Hello. Um, my name is Mory Schaefer. It's S H A F E R and I live at 22 Broadway, West Melford. Um, I also just kind of wanted to follow up on what Justine said. Um, sorry, I can't really I'm inhaling and I can't really breathe. Um, I do use a religious exemption for my daughter and I would just encourage you to start thinking about what the fall will look like with that. Um, I don't want my
040daughter to be in a mask indefinitely. And I think that that's something that we really really need to think about and um, really take parents concerns very seriously. And please start having meetings soon. Don't wait until September. This really needs to be hashed out going forward and please don't put it on the back burner. Thank you. [Music] >> Hello, I'm Alexandra Swander from 112 Timberlane in New Finland, New Jersey. I'll make this fast. Hi, I do not have kids in the school any longer, but I have two daughters in college and I am also a secondderee college student and we all use um religious exemptions. So, I want to echo Miss Moruade and encourage you to please do something about this as quickly as possible because it's very serious and needs to be addressed. It's
041absolutely as soon as possible. and I am just a concerned town's person um because I see how this is affecting my neighbors and I'm extremely concerned about really the health of the children um and what it is doing to them psychologically. Thank you. [Applause] >> Hi Trisha Ghost G um 17 Hillview Court. Um I want to start by just saying um I have three children in the school system, one in the high school and two in the middle school. All three of my children um took the virtual path this year. And I just want to commend the board and all the teachers for what they did with the virtual students and the hybrid and it was crazy. And I think everybody really stepped up and did the best they could to make this year's as
042good for these kids as they could. Um but now coming September, I'm going to take it a step further. Um the children need to be unmasked. No more masks for these kids. These kids has been put through the gamut. They are expected to sit in the classroom for you know 6 and 1/2 hours with a mask on their face. That's the reason why my kids are virtual because I refuse to send them to school to sit with a mask on their face. It is not natural. It is not normal. It is unhealthy and it is psychologically damaging. They need to go back in September. No mask on their faces. No matter if they want to want to make it optional, that's fine. But the mandatory masking has to be dealt with. And also there's been
043no documentation of any teachers having any fatalities from getting a sickness from a child in the school system in the entire state. Like there's they're going to be out and about. They're going to be in stores. They're going to be going all over the place without masks on now. So there's no reason why they should have them in school anymore. Okay. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you. Just as a comment. as a citizen, not board member, but you might want to write the governor. I think that a petition to him would be a wonderful thing >> and that's why we're asking you guys to do the same for us. >> And but I'm saying >> there's many superintendents doing it on behalf of their districts for these bars. >> Voters matter to the
044governor doing it too >> and there's no virtual option anymore. So they're piggy they're putting us into a corner >> and it's not going to be acceptable. >> We will reach that. Thank you. Anyone else? >> I make a motion to approve. >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> I oppose. >> Okay. I'm going to need a motion. >> I'm going to make a couple amendments >> to the agenda. >> Uh before I do so, I would like to just make one comment on the last thing that was said. Um we've been blessed in this community with our staff is relatively healthy. You know, people did get ill. Um, I had a friend who passed away, an educator on April 2nd, 2020. Um, so there are people in this business who have passed away
045from CO. Um, these aren't just numbers. These are people with families with wives and with children. So, um, we know that that's happened. I know that's happened. >> What was that with children? Dr. Emma, I'm sorry I couldn't hear you. >> With wives and children. So, the last speaker just said that, you know, no staff member has passed away, and that's true in this community. We've been very fortunate. Um, but I have a friend who passed away on April 2nd, 2020. >> And I'm sorry that member had passed from transmitting a virus from a child. >> Yeah. >> Now, some quick uh typographical errors on the agenda. I'd like to make corrections to >> page page 12 personnel student affairs number 24. Amy Vizy, assistant principal's office. The daily rate is changed. It should be
046265.13. >> Could you repeat that, please? >> Yes. Top of page 12, personnel student affairs resolution number 24. >> Okay. >> Amy Vy, daily rate 265.13. >> Next page. Page 13. Personnel student affairs number 26. We're going to change the payment to Daniel Broofphy. The new number should be 1507, 157. And then underneath that name, we're going to add another name, Nicole Gwynette. And that amount is 1860. On page 16, Personnel Student Affairs Resolution number 37. About halfway down the page, we're going to delete one of the names, Nicole Gwynette. You can strike that name out. She has been moved to a different summer program. Sorry for all the editing. and operations and finance page 29 resolution number 44 is going to be pulled and replaced with a hand carry on the green sheet. >>
047Can you repeat that please? >> Yes. Page 29, operations and finance resolution number 44 is going to be pulled. It is replaced by operations and finance 44 on the green insert. We have hand carries here. >> We also have a hand. >> Correct. [Music] >> I'll make a motion. >> I said I'll make a motion to adopt the agenda if he's done. >> I'm finished. Yes. Thank >> you. It's part of the year. >> No problem. >> Romeo, let's make the motion to adopt the agenda. >> Second. All those in favor? >> I. >> Any oppose? >> Okay. Education. Mrs. Prior. Okay. I'd like to uh move items one through five for approval and number six will be um voted on after executive session. >> Second. [Applause] >> No discussion. >> I go ahead. >>
048Um I'm excited about number one. Um, I'm starting to get, I guess, buy into this Lincoln thing and I just wanted to say that I've been very skeptical. Um, and this might be my first positive like, but I really want to see more data. Um, so I hope in the upcoming year that we get to see a lot of data and that we become a data driven curriculum and environment. So, um, I just wanted to mention that. Um I'm also you know I was pleased in the education committee meeting in the discussion. Um I also just wanted to say that um there's a psychiatrist on the list on number four who's retiring as of next week. Um so is that something that you would look to find someone else as I know that that uh
049Dr. Leiddub will no longer be doing educational reports? Um >> so he um two things. One, we're always open to adding new psychiatrists to our vendor list, which I, you know, told our teens counselors. So, we're we we review that as it comes in. Two, we're fortunate where Dr. Leub, although he's retiring, >> personally called me and said he would he would be willing to continue to work with Wester. >> You got the lucky star. >> So, that's why he is on there to other districts. >> He just asked that that's good to know. >> Yeah. He just asked that we not contact him in the summer. He's going to take some time off, but then starting I think he said October forward, he'd be available. Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Any other discussion
050on the motion? >> I comment on >> Sure. Go ahead. >> I just want to point out um on the uh cost of that link program, it's a little over a third of that is offset by our title two grant. So that is not a um that is not that size amount for our local budget. that about probably about 30 34 35% of it is paid for title two. >> That's all. >> Thank you. >> Anyone else? >> Roll call. Mrs. Francisco. >> Mrs. Dwire. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Stevenson. >> Yes. >> Mr. Oinsky? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Romeo? >> Yes. >> Mr. Conklin? >> Yes. >> Mrs. O'Brien? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Van Dyke? >> Yes. >> Thank you, Mrs. D. Personnel and student affairs. Mrs. Stevenson, I'd like to make a motion to
051move items 1 to 41. >> That is 43. >> Thank you. I knew I wrote that number wrong. >> 43. Thank you. >> You're welcome. Second. >> Discussion. >> Um, I'd like to just I didn't raise my hand. Sorry. I'd like to just say thank you to all the teachers numbers one through four who um are putting in their resignations. I don't know many of them, but I do know Lisa Lions. Um she was incredible this year and I'm glad to see her go, but hopeful that she enjoys her retirement. I like that you do that. Anyone else? I'm glad to see that we're hiring back our one of our teachers that we had last month. >> And I just have um a couple more things. I'm sorry. I'm curious in number 30, the summer
052curriculum development. I believe we talked about this, but I was just curious, is this for science or social studies? Social studies, not science. What subject is this for >> art? reason number 30 in general. Yeah, >> number 30 refers to you should have a um there's a handout there's an insert that has a breakdown of everything that's um everything that's completed >> is on the board page or is it in the >> I can't access that board page. I tried >> I'm just asking >> because it said it said electronically and I went on to try to navigate and then I almost threw my computer across the window. So I didn't I'm not sure I >> I'm not sure where it is. >> So we're going to have um we're most likely going to have
053additional approval approvals for summer curriculum at the uh the June. >> Um so what I can do is I can go through in detail at the June education committee and then you'll you'll be able to see um >> are they on the Courtney Barbara? have a copy if you want to take a look. >> Okay, I'll get it from you. >> There's quite a few providers. >> Great. >> So, if we're having problem with the board members page, we'll we'll definitely look into that. >> That'd be great. >> Yeah, >> in the in the interim, we could email you the the copy just directly. >> And then did we approve and maybe I missed it. What teachers are going to be part of the development? >> They will also be on that um >> the
054next one. >> Yeah. >> Okay. And then is there any way that um we as a board could see the revisions to the curriculum before adopting it? Can we have copies of >> Yeah. So that um >> we haven't had a whole lot. I mean it's been a as we all know it's been a different year. Um but that's a process we put in place not just during this year last year that um prior to ed committee um you know I do these on a Tuesday the pri the preceding Friday you'll have access to it on the board page so we have two there's two tabs on the board page one for uh curriculum that is has been revised or and the other one is new new curriculum that is up for approval. >> Oh
055great and I can I can just always shoot you >> an email with it also. Thank you. Um, let me see if I have any other. I think that's better. Anyone else have any questions? >> Mrs. Stevenson, >> yes. >> Mr. Ryan, >> yes. >> Mr. Oinski, >> yes. >> Mrs. Romeo, >> abstain on 24 and 43. Yes. To everything else, >> Mr. Conlin. >> Yes. abstain on 21 24 and 43. Yes. On everything else. >> 21 24 and 43. >> Yeah. >> Mrs. Bike, >> I abstain on 24 and yes on the rest. Okay. Um, thank you, Mrs. Stevenson. Operations and finance. Uh, Mr. Oashinski. >> Okay. We're going to do 44 seconds. Okay. I'll make a motion to move items one through 43. >> Second. discussed eight. >> I have a question on
05622 the security. Um is that a current program that we have right now? >> Number 22. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> And do we know um what grades that that um identifies? >> It's it's required. Any other discussions on items 1 through 43? Courtney, >> I'm looking at number eight. Fill us in on what that's about qualified purchasing agent. Okay. So, um, if you're a QPA, which I am, you have a higher threshold where you can, you don't need to go out to bid, but not every school business administrator has that. You have to, um, be certified by community affairs. So, um, it just gives you more. >> Y, thank you. I just it was long and it seems important so I wanted to ask about it. >> No problem. >> Thank you. And then
057my last question for operations and finance is numbers 42 and 43. Do I read this as um Kinolan and Booten Township are bringing their best to us for us to fix and work on? Is there a process that we're making on that? >> We've been doing this for years. Mhm. >> So, um and we charge them um for the mechanics. Mechanics uh do it um not normally during the workday only because they have plenty of lessons to work on, but um overtime it's an opportunity for them to make overtime. >> I think that's wonderful. And I know we always highlight Liz when she gets more um tuition for Highlander Academy. So, I just wanted to thank you for getting a profit for our district. Um, and then going with that number 45. >> We're not
058there yet. >> Oh, sorry. >> I'll wait. >> Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Any other questions for 1 through 43? >> 1 through 43. >> Yes. Okay. Uh, if not roll call, Mr. Princess, go for 1 through 43. Mr. Oshinski, >> yes. >> Mrs. Stevenson, >> yes. >> Mr. O'Brien, >> yes. >> Mrs. Dwire, >> yes. >> Mrs. Romeo, >> yes. >> Mr. Conlin, >> yes. >> Mrs. Van Dyke, >> yes. >> You could probably move 447. >> Make a motion to move um Number 44. >> Yeah, but it's >> I need a second then. >> Second. >> Just number 44. Right. Any discussion on 44? It's not far. >> Mr. Coplin. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Dwire. >> Yes. >> Mr. O'Brien. >> Yes. >> Mr. Oinsky. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Romeo. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Stevenson.
059>> Yes. >> Mrs. Van. >> Yes. >> Motion to approve agenda item 45 through. >> Second. >> Any discussion? 40. Number 45. Okay, now around 45. I'm just curious, why do we contract out to Jordan? If we're selling all those buses, why can't we just use those? >> First of all, we couldn't poss We've had this contract with Jordan for probably 12 to 15 years. Okay. >> Um we don't have the facility to move all of our students. Um it also gives us a balance because um we have an opportunity to work with another organization and they've been very cooperative in the past. We we don't have enough bus drivers to move our own students. So, we have to use cooperatives and we have to use outside organizations. >> So, going with that, if we
060did hire more bus drivers, would we not do this? >> Well, the contract limits our bus drivers to 50 and we couldn't possibly handle all of the groups with only 50 drivers. >> Got it. it it gives you a balance to tell. Okay. And then my last question is number 16 and 61 with the um the school lunches. Are there not going to be free lunches in September? I think we've talked about this a little bit before school lunches. Did you say? >> Yeah. Um, right now we haven't decided if we're going to have all the cart yet, but we have school lunches now. >> No, I know. But right now they're free. >> Yes. And they will next year also. >> Oh, because there were prices attached with it. So maybe that was my
061No, >> I can't hear. >> There were prices on number 68. >> Okay. So yes, if we do end up going into all the cards, >> then there's going to be some additional >> Okay. >> cost. >> And is it still through? And it's >> through Pantonian through >> Ponttonian. >> Thank you. >> The the free lunches are good till the end of December. Is that correct? The contract >> right now they're through the next school year. >> Oh, they are through the next school year. Okay. >> See, aren't you glad I brought it up? >> Yeah. >> I'm not getting them, but >> right now they're through the next school year. Eventually, it's going to be problematic. Parents having to apply provide at risk with the applications, which are important. um for other reasons,
062but um we will do our due diligence and try to get the applications submitted anyway. And u hopefully we'll be able to expand on the program if things opened up in the fall. Since you brought it up, I hope I can bring this out. Uh it's very important since we're on TV, I'll say it, that parents fill out the free and reduced lunch forms. I know it's a paper it's a paper item that most people, you know, would rather not fill out or what. No one knows if you get that lunch for free because everybody gets the same >> swipe card. But when it's counted for us, the title money that doc that uh Mr. Novak uses for a number of our programs flow off of that count. So, it is extremely important that if
063you qualify that you identify that you do qualify because our district, it would be very beneficial to our district and most of all beneficial to our students. Um, I'm sorry for going >> No, I'm glad I brought it up so you could say that because that is super important. >> Uh, Kate, you had another >> I didn't have questions until um the discussion of the bus drivers and um I guess I just want to clarify two things. Number one, 50 drivers. Does that mean there that we could only hire 50 school bus drivers? >> Right now in the in their contract, it's 50 drivers. Yes. >> Okay. And you said something about having an opportunity with the Georgia Transportation gives us a balance of power. Can you explain that? Like I just don't I don't
064understand what you mean that we like I could ask I could ask 10 different questions, but I think you probably could just give me two sentences and explain it simply. I don't I don't understand it. >> Well, a lot of districts outsource their transportation. So, by not having everything on one side or the other, not totally outsourcing or not totally having your own drivers, it gives you a balance of power. >> Okay. >> Keeps keeps equilibrium. >> Thank you. >> Any other discussion? If not, roll call. Mr. Conlin, >> yes. >> Mrs. Ber, >> yes. >> Mr. O'Brien, >> yes. >> Minsky, >> yes. >> Mrs. Romeo, >> yes. This is 44 through 65, right? >> Correct. >> Thank you. Yes. >> 45 through 65. >> 45. >> Yes, >> Mrs. Stevenson. >> Yes. >>
065Mrs. Van Dyke. >> Yes. Next like to move agenda item number 66. >> Second. >> Any discussion? >> If not, roll call. >> Mr. Ochensky? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Stevenson? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Dwire? >> Yes. >> M. O'Brien? >> Yes. >> Mr. Conlin? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Romeo? >> Abstain. >> Mrs. Van Dyke. Abstain. I would like to move item number 67 through 70. >> Second >> discussion if not roll >> Mr. Ojinski >> yes >> Mrs. Stevenson >> yes >> Miss O'Brien >> yes >> Mrs. Squire >> yes >> Mrs. room. >> Yes. >> Mr. Conlin, >> yes. >> Mrs. Van, >> yes. >> I'd like to move on the hand carry agenda item number 71. >> Second [Applause] discussion roll call. >> Mr. Oinsky, >> yes. >> Mrs. Stevenson, >> yes. >>
066Mr. O'Brien, >> yes. >> Mrs. Dwire, >> yes. >> Mrs. Romeo, >> yes. Mr. Conlin. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Van Dyke. Yes. >> Thank you. We need to go into executive session before we uh address the negotiations item. Um should we go now or should we wait till after? >> We we'll move on to reports. Parks and Rec. I don't have anybody here tonight. Did you know anybody? Thank you. Um, we did not have a meeting this month. Uh, the next meeting will not be until September for the new school year. Superintendent Ramble, I have quite a report this month. Um, there were several items that were discussed. The first one was student vaccination and the question was if a student for the vaccine is able to get an appointment during school hours, will the
067absence be excused? And the answer from our superintendent was that vaccine absences will be counted the same as regular doctor's appointments. They're not excused, but if students are in danger of losing credits for a class, the same consideration will be given as a doctor's appointment. um as long as that doctor's note. Um as an aside, students that have been fully vaccinated and it's 2 weeks after their vaccine will not need to quarantine if identified as a close contact through tracing. The second area was um 2021 2022 first grade. Um there was a question about how many kindergartens um how many first graders who attended other kindergartens will be returning to West Milford and Dr. Anamone and Mr. Novak are going to check into that. Um the fifth grade end of the year um everyone seems
068to be finalizing their plans. Fifth grade change of classes will be occurring again in September. Fifth grade band and cur chorus um those programs will be back next year. And uh there was question and this always I always support the parents on this one because I have a problem with the real you know the way the kids get lunch. I just don't like the food I guess. But um there was a question about who decides the menu um and is there any way to offer options other than the free lunch to students if families are willing to pay for them. Uh and the answer was Plantonium decides the menu and hopefully next year there will be more options for the students again discussed with the quality of the food offered to the students and that
069information can be relayed to Pomptonian for hopeful improvement. Um there was a question about Encore. The update um with the return to the school the school plan and students being offered class 5 days a week. The virtual cohort was able to be adjusted. Three virtual teachers returned uh to inerson classrooms and back to the encore program schedule. That was Maple Road, PK and Westbrook. Each building is now receiving about.7 staff. The schedule began on Monday after spring break on April 19th. There was a question about plan for utilizing the COVID relief funds and the answer was that there are no set plans. However, the district will have until 2023 to utilize the funds received from the SR2 grant. More details will come as the plans are solidified. Some options may be adding additional um for
070support in building extending the summer reading program to include a math and one social emotional break. The district is hoping to have an update at the next meeting. And NJSLA is there any update since our last meeting? Um there will be no NJSLA administered this spring. There will be smaller assessments um for ESL and special education. The next largecale assessment will be to start strong in the fall and then the full battery of state assessments next spring. Okay. And I thank Kelly Stiniano for sending me this because my notes I couldn't make any sense out of it. So that is my report >> and our next meeting is Thursday. >> Thursday is our next meeting. Yep. Thank you, Mrs. Joy. State County School Board. >> Yep. Um the final State County School Board Association meeting
071of the 2021 school year was last night on Zoom. Um we had on elections. We have a new county president and two new county vice presidents. Um, the state schoolboard association is offering a virtual advocacy program on June 8th through 10th for our members up around the table, my cohorts. The county schoolboard association is beginning to work on a county strategic plan for 20 2022 through 2024. Questionnaires will be sent to all board members. So, that's separate from what we're doing here in West Mulford. Uh Kesha Drakesford is our C County Superintendent. She came on uh the Zoom meeting last night and she introduced herself to the um people who were there. Chris Jones, the New Jersey School Board Association legislative advocate, spoke about the state's budget and it's in its final stages right now.
072And then he discussed federal federal programs and plans which have an environmental element involved with the push to build carbon neutral schools and fund electric school buses. Um the big question of this whole conversation is who gets what for what and uh then they uh on a smaller note civil uh the governor had signed the uh civic education program that we should be implementing. Was it would it be this year or next year? >> Oh, that I did not know. The the >> Say that again, Debbie. >> The civic education. The governor just signed a bill for that. >> Civic. >> Oh, that that's not for this year. It's for the >> That's for the for next year. Okay. Um, Hela, uh, Kathy Hela, our field service rep, um, again said our superintendent evaluations are
073due by July 1st and that the federal government is asking school districts for an entry plan for the 2122 school year. And that's it. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> I I have a question, Dad. Who's our new president? >> Oh, thank God I saved my notes. >> Um, Charles Caribelloo from Bloomingdale. >> Oh, okay. >> And then our vice presidents are Frank uh Casper from Clifton and that's our second VP and the first VP is Maryanne Capruski from >> Pake. Okay. Thank you. >> Welcome to the school board. Uh just that we're we're we had a meeting with Kathy Hela to set up the strategic plan, but I gave that in support of my president's report. >> Legislative >> technology oversight's not here. uh township and education joint committee Friday morning at 9:00
074am and I believe we're in the conference room in the board office right [Music] Milford Municipal Alliance >> the West Milford Municipal Alliance had their May Zoom meeting on Monday May 10th discussed were the two grants that were due later in the week um programs for the school for our schools for the 21-22 school year. National Nights Out which will be taking place on August 3rd at 6:30 p.m. and there is no rain date which will be taking place at Bubbling Springs. Um there was a mention last month in my report of giving scholarships through the alliance. Unfortunately, the funding guidelines does not allow the awarding of scholarships. Um there was a discussion of uh having additional fundraising for scholarships for the graduates of 2022. Um Hope One van is going to be at the
075Highlands Market June 7th from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. This is a van that is staffed with a licensed medical mental health professional and excuse me and certified peer recovery specialist who understand the needs of those suffering with addiction. They help people access services and Narcan training. And uh the hope in is through the is through pick prevention is key. And last this past Sunday, Sunday was our third annual Scott run and turnout was fantastic with about 155 people and a lot of support from our community and from our county. >> Thank youelcome. Very well attended. >> All right. Old business and new for old business. >> Hey, I have something. I don't know if you want to include in old business or new, but I I think it's old business. The fifth grade real
076program with the police department is always called the real >> what >> we >> it was supposed to be >> supposed to be. Thank you. >> Um does anyone have an update on that? Was it discussed at municipal alliance or have you spoken to them? I I imagine this year it's not happening. Um >> the last conversation we had was that it wasn't going to be taking place this year. >> Okay. Um and I don't know if I can address something. I did have a conversation with um Mayor Gail um congratulating all the new police officers that they were able to hire. They were all in the wings waiting because of COVID. They couldn't go to academy. So that's why there was like a major, you know, they hired 17, I think it was seven
077new officers and that is something that we were going to talk about like some of the programs with the police and the schools because we because of the co because of the pandemic and that and the police department was so short-handed that we were we were going to discuss it. That was one of the items on my list. >> Okay, great. Um I'll save my other one for new business because that one we've discussed already. >> So I was just wondering um about the field and any update on the field um at Howard Field. I noticed that there's some there's been some movement if you will of some dirt and and rocks and and things and I'm just curious about it. Um I believe that I put something in the operations and finance report. Um
078Mr. Kajjaki our recreation director and Chris Kelly our supervisor building the ground have been meeting regularly. They have a plan in place to do some renovation on the field um at the end of the season. So um in July um some work was done on the T-ball field >> to make that um a little bit more um playable. And so that was taken care of a couple of weeks ago. Um what you need to recognize is that we don't use a lot of our fields other than sports. So recreation uses our fields. We have to work together with them in order to keep and maintain them. Um, so I believe that there's going to be some ground rules once the fields have been renovated >> so that coaches and leagues themselves really need to adhere
079to a certain schedule or let recreation or the board of board of education take care of the any kind of renovations. So or you know the the maintenance I have to say, um, I feel like the little league programs and the soccer and the football do a great job at taking care of the fields. I know my family's out cleaning off the fields and helping them as much as possible. And Howard Field, I I've mentioned before, is being used by our freshman softball girls. I saw them again just on Monday night using the field. So that is one of our fields that is in dire need of being renovated and updated if the girls freshman team is using it regularly. >> Well, we can't do we can't do anything with it now until the season
080is over. >> Right. We we did have we do have clay. We we did order clay. It has arrived and when the season ends, it'll be put on the field and it takes it's a little bit of a process to get it done. I believe that's the field that has a rock coming up through it. So, it needs to be scraped. It needs to be >> It needs to be excavated. >> Yeah. >> I hope this is something else that's on your list with the mayor, too, because I think that this is >> Well, we always talk about the the fields are something that always seems the recreation comes up. Yeah, I think and I think it's going to keep coming up um because you have a lot of board members who have young families
081who are using the fields regularly and who, you know, we want the best thing for for our town. So, um I'd like to keep talking about this and I might keep bringing it up. >> I feel I feel that the mayor and council work with us on different issues just coming >> and the rec department, you know. Well, I'm saying that that that unfortunately before co there wasn't a recctor either. He had just come on >> like I think we had one what did we have one meeting and that was it. So you know he's were kind of all in that same boat but fields fields in west in general fields in West Milford are always a topic of conversation. Yes, it's probably standing thing on our >> Before we move off that topic, in
082the notes, it does say that there was discussion about moving the varsity baseball field again. Could you explain that uh in the notes from operations and finance meeting, it said that there was discussion? >> Yeah, we do have some property behind that sold on the hill and at one time it was scheduled to be on the soccer field and nothing had been We didn't move forward with that, but we're looking into the feasibility of perhaps the baseball field up there because one of the problems we have at Kalen is that all water flows down and is the lowest point. >> You answered my question. Thank you. I could not determine from the notes where we were talking. So, thank you very much. >> Whether or not that ever materializes, but we can give it our
083best shot. >> Well, we'll just keep talking about it. so that you get more and more annoyed make it happen for us or getting annoyed doesn't give a thing. >> If it did, we'd be we'd be rich now. >> Yeah. I just let Chris know to remind him that we need to to put our heads together to try to figure out how to put a feability uh study together in order to see whether or not we could do it and and what the time frame would be. Thank you, Barbara. >> Any other old business? If not, I need a motion. >> I'll make a motion to close business. >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> Any opposed? >> New business. I have something. >> I um this week I attended um a grassroots meeting
084at the high school with um under the direction of Mr. Trancasta. And the objective of this meeting was to promote branding for the district to try to unify all schools under one brand and also to promote our district to get it out there that we are providing for our children and our students better than a lot of um charter schools, brochial schools, say county tech. our our SAT scores are higher than PCTI. Um uh we have $60,000 in scholarships being given this year, which is phenomenal considering we've been in a COVID um environment. Um, it's my hope that that this this grassroots movement gets off the ground and we include the academics and the um the sports together so that we show the community that we are here for their children that they don't have
085to put a kid on a bus for two hours that they can come right here. We even have we have culinary arts. We have um the industrial arts. We have the academics. We have the sports programs. We need the support of the community. And that's what this grassroots is trying to do to try to get it out there to let people know what West Milford School District is about. I can tell you I have faith in this because my children went through this district and my children are highly successful and they couldn't have done it. I mean when they went off to college their first comment to me was mom we were the only kid we were the only one in our English class who could write a research paper. Okay. We were the only
086ones who understand the math thing. So there there's and my kids are average kids. They're not honors. They're just average kids. But um you know, this needs to be promoted and I'm happy to see that Mr. Trenosta is moving this slowly. That's good. That sounds awesome. >> Yeah. >> Any other business? >> Um I was wondering I know you won't have the numbers for me tonight, but Dan, I think this probably going to fall under you. I'm wondering if you could let me know how many Heroes and cool kids meetings there were this year. Um, at the beginning of the year, we talked about all the things that were missed last year and we talked about all these programs like the lead program and the heroes and cool kids and and we made up for
087that. Um, you know, for as those students went into Makipin and in the fall they got their t-shirts and they had meetings and they did well then this current fifth grade hasn't had the lead program and to my knowledge and only had one hero and focus meeting. Um, so I would like to discuss at a later date. I'm bringing it up as new business that we can talk about it later. Um, how to do that again possibly. I think it's too late to do it now um in in having meetings and whatever, but I know that the current sixth grade had, you know, made up for the things, you know, just wanted to mention I don't think the Heroes of Kids program did as many meetings as they were supposed to. I don't even think
088they did half, but I might be wrong. So, I'm asking you for the numbers. How many do they have in a normal year? >> I don't know the exact count. 21. I know that we began um the beginning of the year obviously was was you know it wasn't happening in person um but I believe we started again in February. >> Okay. So there have been some inerson ones. >> Yeah. I'll get you the numbers for for inerson. >> Awesome. Thank you. >> Anyone else anything for new business? >> Make a motion to close new business. >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> Any opposed? Okay, we'll move on to public comment. Public comment. This portion of the meeting is open to members of the public having a legitimate interest in the actions of the
089board for the purpose of addressing any subject matter pertinent to andor directly related to the operations of the West Looper Public School District. Members of the public who have requested to speak prior to the meeting will be recognized by the chair. Each speaker will be given five minutes for a time period of 30 minutes and then time permitting other um public comment limited to five minutes per speaker will be allowed until the 30 minute time period transpires. All speakers are asked to sign the register provided, give their full name, spell their last name, group affiliation as appropriate, and provide their address. Issues raised by the members of the public may or may not be responded to by the board. All comments will be considered and are responsible for coming if and where appropriate. The board
090asks that members of the public be courteous and respectful of the rights of other individuals when teaching specifically comments regarding students and employees and the borders that serve and the board and the administration will not be respon will not respond to them. Students and employees have specific legal rights afforded to them by the laws of New Jersey. The board is not responsible and is not liable for any comments made by members of the public. Members of the public should consider their comments in light of the legal rights of those affected or identified in their comments. Members of the public are reminded that they are legally responsible and liable for their comments. Anyone wishing to speak under uh public comment >> Trisha Gers Gst 17 Hillview Court. Excuse me. Um, I just wanted to make a
091clarification um for the board's edification and the public's edification. I don't want to be misqued in the minutes um or on record on video. Um, I think that my comment by Mr. Oshensky was misconstrued. Um, I meant to say, I believe I did say that there had been no documented fatalities in teacher to student transmission or studenttoteer transmission. I didn't say there was no fatalities of any teacher in any school district period, but there has been no documentation that there has been fatalities from transmission from a teacher to a student or student to a teacher. I just want to make that clear and I know that I understand there's no back and forth, but I just want to uh make that clear for everybody's edification. >> Dr. responding to when we have our announce and
092the mics are going. I don't think >> Oh my god, that you sounded just like Mr. Roinski. So, thank you very much. That's all. >> Thank you. Anyone else? >> Hi. Um, Moraurice Schaefer, S Her 22 Broadway, West Milford. Um, I had heard this has absolutely nothing to do with masks or anything else. Um, but I was reading about Governor Murphy's uh new bill that he signed. I believe it's called the Teaching Tolerance Program. I might be saying the wrong thing. Um, but a lot of it has to do with um kind of the sexual orientation, transgender uh type of education. And I'm wondering if parents will get any kind of notification about what their children will be taught and if parents will be able to opt out of any of that kind of education.
093Um I've heard that it will reach across all subject matter. So it will not just be limited to health class. Um but that things will be implemented into English, social studies, etc. What do we do as parents? I feel like this is kind of, you know, a whole new thing and I feel like parents need to know so that we can then have discussions with our children about things that they may be taught. Um, I'm wondering if there's any kind of a plan to alert parents to those kinds of curriculum changes. Thank you. >> Anyone else wishing to speak? >> Hi, thank you. Alexander Swander from 112 Timberlane, New Houndland. Um, >> just one quick thing, if all of you could just sign that register after you're done to let me know. >> Sure. Okay.
094No, no, no, of course. So, I just wanted to thank you. It has been a difficult year and so we do appreciate your efforts and I'm sure that sometimes you feel they might go unrecognized by the town. So, thank you very much. Um, so regarding the masking issue, um, I do just want to kind of like end on one thing. you know, we do encourage the board to adopt an unmask the children approach and uh perspective moving forward. Um we feel it's extremely important for the children's psychology and health. Um I think earlier when we were speaking um we were seeking um a little bit of movement forward and so but I don't know if we had that. I understand you can't necessarily address where we are right now. Um however um President Van Djk
095um um you did encourage us to you know um advocate for ourselves you know to the government the state government um really the very very politically active group of um of parents here um who have uh feel this issue is very important. So uh please don't underestimate our activity with the state government um and we ask that you support us and do the same. who are asking you will you support this and will you please be an advocate for this issue and Dr. Uh Emil, correct? Thank you. Um I I know that um when we ended you had said uh you had said that somebody had died of CO that you knew. Um but that wasn't really answering our question. Uh we're asking you for your support uh and to join the superintendent of Roxberry,
096Randolph, Bville, and other towns in drafting a letter to the governor supporting the unmasking of students as soon as possible. Um you know, we understand that many people have had relatives, friends who have um experienced CO or who have died of CO, but you know, we've also had relatives who are dying of other things as well. And um I felt that was a bit of a punt. Uh you know we want to work together. We would like to you know work with you to perhaps even draft the letter if this is something that you would allow us to do with you and so that we feel that we're working you know hand in hand on this. But this is a very important issue to many of us here and to many other parents in the
097town. So thank you so much for listening to me and thank you again for all your hard work this year. >> Thank you. Seeing [Applause] none, I'd like to public comment. Second that >> or I'll second it. Sorry, whatever. >> All those in favor. >> Any motion to go into the second? At 8:28 p.m. I make a motion to go into executive session for the purpose of discussing personnel appointments, resignation, current litigation matters, special education matters, negotiations, HIVs, and matters of attorney privilege. >> Second. >> All those in favor and we will be coming out uh to take action. [Music] approximately 30 minutes. >> Call the meeting back to order. >> Go ahead. >> Mrs. Romeo here. Mrs. Stevenson >> here. >> Mr. Sman, Mrs. Flyer >> here. >> Mr. Mr. Ryan here, >> Mr.
098Dino, Mr. Ojinski >> here, >> Mr. Clay >> here, >> Mr. Vand >> here, Mrs. DW. >> Okay. I move to accept the recommendation of the super superintendent to approve the following hits. 2021H1, we are going to table that. 2022 uh M1 unsubstantiated and 2021 H2 substantiated. Any discussion? >> If not, local. >> Mrs. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Stevenson. >> Yes. >> Mr. Oshinsky. >> Yes. >> Mrs. O'Brien. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Romeo? >> Yes. >> Mr. Conlin? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Van? >> Yes. Need a motion to adjourn? >> No, you're not. >> No. negotiations. >> Oh, negotiations. I'm sorry. I was ready to adjourn. >> Sorry about that, Deb. Go ahead. >> All right. Do I need to read the whole thing? >> If it's on the agenda, you do not, but you
099could. So, everyone knows what we did. >> You can if you would like. We saw that the West Milford Board of Education ratifies the memorandum of agreement and shell guides with the West Milford Education Association on behalf of the West Milford Education Association, the West Milford Educational Secretaries Association and the West Milford Special Class Aids Association for the period of July 1st, 2021 through June 30th, 2024. And be it further resolved that the board president and board secretary authorized to execute the final contract documents once placed in a form satisfactory to the board labor council. >> Any discussion? >> If not roll call >> Miss O'Brien. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Stevenson. >> Yes. >> Mr. Oinski. >> Yeah. >> Mr. Conlin. Yes, >> Mrs. Yes, Mr. Gino. Oh, sorry, Mrs. Romeo. Mrs. >> I abain.
100>> Okay, now I need a motion uh to adjourn. >> Anybody? >> Okay. >> All those in favor? >> Have a good night.