001All right, welcome to the West um for January 26, 2021. Uh please take a moment of silence for your own intentions. Please stand for the pledge. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Okay. In accordance with the provisions of the open public 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's office, the board attorney, cable vision forward, and West Milford TV77, and closely 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.
002Mrs. Francesco roll >> Mrs. Romeo >> here. >> Mrs. Stevenson >> here. >> Mr. Conklin. >> Mrs. Dwire >> here. >> Mr. Greeno >> here. >> Mrs. O'Brien >> here. >> Mr. Oshinsky >> here. >> Mr. Stillman >> here. >> Mrs. Van Dyke here. >> Okay. To to all my fellow board members, thanks for showing up tonight. I know the weather is not great, but it's very much appreciated. Okay. Superintendent report. Dr. Anna. >> Uh yes. Good evening everybody. Welcome to our regular January meeting. Our first we're going to have one uh change to the superintendent report. The Eagle Scout project is going to be moved to February. So, we will hear from one of our high school seniors in a month for a project at Aptua School. Um, and an update for our hybrid
003learning uh model that we're doing so far. Um, we are at the secondary level in high school. We just started our third mark period. So, the first and second marking period, which is semester 1, finished last Friday. We started our second semester which is our third marking period on Monday just uh just yesterday actually. So students uh in some cases switched classes semester classes ended new semester classes beginning and obviously fullyear classes went uh continued on through. So, our high school admins and MACPINE admins, they're meeting with their intervention and referral services teams uh daily, weekly to consist to look for students to bring back to school for 5 days a week instruction um from one of the cohorts. So, we have our A cohort, our B cohort, and they are looking to uh bring
004some additional students back on a need basis, on a space availability basis, but on a need basis. So the students who need the most academic support are at the top of the list and the students who may not need as much support or a little bit down the priority list. Um at the elementary levels we are in the middle of our second trimester. Uh this year we did switch from four marking periods at the elementary level to three. So we now have three trimesters, three report cards. We're roughly halfway. We're in the middle of uh trimester 2 at the K to5 level. So teachers uh sent home report cards at the end of first trimester and we're about halfway through uh the school year now. Um our elementary principal spent the better part of the
005last month. I know we mentioned in December we were looking to bring additional students back at the K5 level 5 days a week and they we've been doing that for the past month. U I took a look um just the other day. This is based on Friday's numbers, but of all the eligible elementary students, which is to say if you take out the all virtual students, uh we have about 67% about 2/3 of our students are in the building every day at the uh K to 5 level. Um, so I know we looked at a cohort A and B as half and half, but when you increase the five-day cohort, it necessarily increases both those days. Um, so we're looking at about, if you take out the virtual students, we're looking at about 2/3 of
006the students are in school on any given day, which is a lot, a lot more than we started with in the fall. So um, and again, that's on an a need basis. Um the students who need the most support were asked to come back first. Probably started in November and we worked our way here. We are now finishing January. We're halfway done with the school year and we're doing well there. Um and lastly, we do our student council president was not able to make it tonight, but she did email me a statement she would like read, so I have it here. This is from Amanda Gerald, our student council president. Good evening, Dr. Anamone and distinguished members of the West Milford Board of Education. The student council is currently planning for the spring and fall
007of 2021. This past year, as everyone knows, has been stifling for us and has put the brakes on just about all of our programs. We are all glad that 2020 is over and are looking forward to the day when we can put this horrible epidemic behind us. The winter sports season has just begun and we are all looking forward to great yet shortened seasons. Home games will be streamed on the high school TV science YouTube channel. She gave me the link here, but it's on our website if you're looking for it. So, parents, families, and friends can watch the events, and I'll add in here for free. There's no cost to that. Teams are also working with other schools to try and share all games so that parents can watch as many games as possible
008since at the current time spectators are not allowed at events. And again, I'll just update Governor Murphy, I think yesterday it was mentioned that he will be he's looking into the possibility of allowing some spectators at winter sports events, indoor winter sports events a little bit later in the season, giving priority to senior parents. So there is some hope looking ahead. Continuing along, the West Milford High School Student Council is hoping to start virtual activities such as trivia night, which had some success last spring. We are also looking into options for senior choice awards and Highlander Day. Finally, we are still making donations to local charities, food banks, families in need, investigating ways to raise funds so we can continue to donate to community causes as that has always been a big part of what
009the student council does. We are patient but anxious to get back to our student activities. When this is all over, West Milford High School student council will come back bigger and better than ever. Sincerely, Amanda Gerald. >> Can I add something? Sure. Can I add that? Okay. Last week, um, our our theater arts kids participated in what was the equivalent of what used to be a teen arts festival, and they did exceptionally well. I'd like to congratulate them. Second place comedic monologue was Victoria. Uh, second place improv pairs was Jack Riley and Thomas Dynan. Third place musical solo was Mia Gerudi. Fifth place dramatic pairs was Gresudi and a Vancheek. So, thank you for representing our school and thank you for doing such a wonderful job and they should be congratulated and I want to
010give them a shout out and an applause. Okay. >> All right. Dr. Anon, do you have anything else? >> That's all for me. Thank you. >> Okay. District of Education Director of Education, Mr. Novak. >> Thank you, Terry. Um, I would like to just provide a brief update. It was a question at um, I think our workshop meeting about uh, status of district uh, district branding. Um, and in case you're wondering what that's in reference to, we did adopt our um updated goals. I'm just going to read goal number one uh as it relates to the topic to develop a plan to advance communication and consistent methods of communication and to enhance branding throughout the district. Um, so in our in our uh early conversations, uh we believe that our um website is that first
011um that first sort of go-to piece when you're talking about communication and district branding. It has been a uh discussion piece probably in in this room uh at um many committees and and many discussions for a number of years. Um so we are at that point now. Uh I can speak for uh Robert Winston um who's in the room with us and and part of our uh technology committee that he is in the process of looking for updated um updated or new web designers or vendors for us to um to work with. And um you know I don't know if start from scratch is the is the phrase but I I think we um you know we're we're open to all options for how we can move forward in the short term. Um what we've
012been able to accomplish at the um I guess district and high school athletic department level to this point is the collection of all of our staff members and their uh social media accounts and and the ability to collect them in one place. Um so if you have been on our website um recently, you may notice that the uh bottom right panel that is the district Twitter uh district Twitter feed which or district Twitter and Facebook. The district Twitter feed has now been populated um with all of the district level um tweets or or professionals who are tweeting on behalf of the district. our principles, our supervisors, our central office staff are all collected there on our on our homepage. Uh we have also um I'm not sure if it's completed, but we began the process.
013Uh Robert, give me a thumbs up. Is that done? The athletics. Okay. So, we are in the process now of collecting all of the uh Twitter accounts for all of our coaches and putting that all in the similar way on our athletics homepage. So the the goal of this is to I guess funnel you know depending on what parent or what you know student your your um what program your students participate in you might follow this coach or that coach and and not get the complete picture. So now that we have this ability to streamline all of our social media accounts in one way on a particular page um is going to give uh you know the community a little bit more access to to get the the broader picture. And um following along those
014lines, we know that our high school teachers, our department leaders, our elementary teachers, our specialists, you can go right down the list of all the people in our district who do a great job on Twitter, on Instagram, and who are inviting their class into their, you know, the our our families into their classroom um through uh a web tool. So now we're going to have a better way of collecting those on each school's homepage. So you can expect that the Westbrook homepage will have the collection of all of the Westbrook staff members who are um utilizing Twitter and and Instagram and you'll be able to see it all in see it all in one place. So that's um that's the step one. That's the the part we're working on and we anticipate that we could
015have that project completed by um our next board meeting and I would love to be able to at our next board meeting drop the screen, give you a brief little click on it and and go through from there. Um the next item is just a brief um just a brief little update. I know has been something I'm I'm even hesitant to bring it up in in uh at the board meeting because it has um had its share of um criticism over the years. Um we are in the process and I've mentioned it I think a few times in this room about a I what I call a controlled abandonment. Um we we see tremendous value in the math resource of EXL in certain in certain courses at certain grades. Um but we do see the
016opportunity to trend away from it in grades kindergarten, first and second grade. Uh so we are looking um not looking, we're we're in the process of bringing in a program called St Math. It is a um a program that is that it receives rave reviews for its ability to um develop deep thinking, perseverance, and um problem solving in our youngest uh in our youngest students. It is um it lacks language barriers. So it is very um it is very picture oriented. It is game based. It does not penalize for trying and trying and trying. It it just it just continues to encourage. So that's been some of the criticism on the past is that if a student gets a uh incorrect answer that it knocks them back and their score goes down. Uh this takes
017a different approach and it's a encouraging fun game-based um process. Our staff began the training for this last week on our early dismissal PD day and they are completing um some self-guided modules for for training between now and our uh February 16th full full day of staff development and on that day we'll have a trainer from StMath who will work with our staff and and um you know kind of finish finish off the training. It's our anticipation that this will go live with students in grades K1 and two on February 17th. Um there is a elaborate um parent information component that comes with this. So families uh can anticipate receiving all that information on the Friday before uh President's Day weekend. Um so we can you know um take a look. I'll do a de
018I'll do a demonstration at our next board meeting for this uh for this platform. It's a It's a significant change from from what we've done in the past. So, I think it deserves the um you know, the attention that we're giving it. >> Oh, no. I just have a couple questions with the district um Twitter feed. I love that. I'm wondering if somebody doesn't Twitter, are they able to see an access? >> Yeah. So, it it that's Yeah. it puts the tweets on the page and it's a a scrolling panel. >> And then my other question for that is are you um encouraging you talked about the administrators and the coaches and I didn't know this or the teachers are teachers going to be blasting um what they're doing in their class and hey I
019did a STEM project and hey this was our you know inauguration day you know activity. Is there going to be different things? >> Yeah. So that we have we have an administrative meeting tomorrow and this is this is the topic on our agenda to make sure that we are following through on that. A majority of our staff are already doing these things. Um but again coming back to the goal of building some consistency. Um you know like we're not looking to add you know we're certainly not looking to add anything to somebody's workload but we're just looking to you know coordinate it and and you know make it a little bit more consistent from you know from one building one grade to to the next. >> And I love that too. My only concern is
020uh children's privacy. So we have to be a little uh aware and careful of not putting children's faces or names on this because this is the worldwide >> Right. Well, yeah, we we've got a we've got a very elaborate um do not photo process and um permissions that works through real time. Um you know, the parent questions that are on there. every um every school maintains a very specific list and you'll you know you'll see um you know that teachers go through great lengths to make sure that that they're very careful about those about those things. >> And then with ST I just Googled it and I'm just curious why this one was chosen for others. Was there a price factor? >> There wasn't um wasn't a price factor. Um we had we piloted with
021um some uh select group of teachers uh last year and in all the schools got their hands on it. They got we took advantage of during the pandemic um we had free licenses so we took advantage of that and um you know it aligns with our current math program and it and it aligns it it adapts to many of the popular programs that we have available to us. So we've talked and and that's one of our goals for the uh coming year or two is to transition possibly transition away from go math. So we wanted to have a program that's also adaptive. You know it aligns with go math. It aligns with other the other big um you know publisher textbook series that are that are out there. I think one of the um distinguishing
022characteristics was what I um what I alluded to earlier is that it was fun and that it was that it was game based but it still meets the standards. it still is uh still allows our teachers to align it with their class content that they can teach a lesson and then they can use this tool to support. So it it checked all the boxes in terms of what we were looking for. >> And this one is only math. >> This one is only math. Yeah. >> I guess that's where my question is. Why go with one that's only math and not go with one that has math and the PLA component with it? Well, at the at the time we um to be perfectly honest with you, it was from a discussions, you know, and
023what's the you know, how do we how do we trend away from while still meeting the needs of our students and you know, so it was a math specific uh thought process. We have um you know, uh pretty good interaction with reading a toz and that's our that's one of our main tools in in the primary level for you know, for reading and writing. So >> Debbie, do you have a question? I assume special education teachers are partial at least looking at the math curriculum and and I assume that I assume that they're on board with this as well. Correct. >> Yeah, they were they were trained as well. >> And feedback feedback with specialist what we probably started several years back. I'm not really sure exactly how long now, but we really have involved
024the special education teachers in the same way that we do the general education teachers. So, they're part of all of the discussions, the subgroups, the training. Um, even now, you know, a lot of our curriculum work is kind of, I guess you could say, more of a universal design so that it meets all learners differentiated. Yeah. Okay. And that's one of the um that's one of the benefits of this um of this is that the StMath has a very limited um use of language, very limited even like directions and instructions. It's it's intuitive. It's designed for try, test, revise. It's it's in it's designed for the students to um you know to come up to a task that they can't do and be able to work through it and figure it out without putting their
025hand up and having someone tell them what to do. It's it's uh it's to build perseverance. It's to build deep thinking. It's to build that stick tuitiveness that I don't think we see um widespread in our in our current math uh process. >> All right. So, you say limited um wording. So, I assume you're introducing math words like we're doing addition, subtraction, that kind of stuff. I don't >> think you know E is one you know that I mean there's there's going to be language in this correct >> not necessarily >> okay so um I know you said it was pilot with a group of teachers you know I said this before but I encourage you pick a group of teachers that might have different opinion than and you might so you can kind of
026get a good feel. Um, second, can you get us other school districts that are using the ST Math so maybe we can talk to board member from another school district to see what they're feeling about that program? >> Nope. >> Debbie, were you satisfied with everything? >> I'm all right. >> Okay. >> Daniel, we talk about Sorry. Right. That's okay. >> We talked about math and I'm new to the education committee. I've only had one meeting so far. Haven't heard about it there yet. I'm wondering has it been discussed in in a year prior? >> I brought it up last year when we were when we were piloting it. >> Thank you. I think the one thing I just want to kind of mention to piggyback on what Dan was saying where I think it
027is more user friendly for specialty students is that it has a very big visual reasoning and visual component. Many of our students with special needs require more of a visual or tactile learning to to grasp the concepts of math. So I think that there is going to still be obviously some kind of language but it approaches it from a different way from what I remember about it. >> Right. >> And this is just like an online learning thing similar to what ISL was. It's a supplement. >> It's a it's a supplement. Right. >> It's a it's a supplementary tool. Right. What is I don't know if you know it right off the bat, but what is the cost of this tool? >> I don't know it off the bat. >> Okay. Right. Um Oh, you're
028only saying to use it as a tool. >> Yeah, it's a it's a practice tool. >> It's not a replacement, not a replacement program. It's not um you know, it's not earth shaking. It's a it's a supplement to you know we sit at Wampa um superintendent round table month after month and people want to know when are we going to trend away from so we've acted on that and you know and we've you know I think it's a great tool I'll demonstrate it. So you Debbie, so your answer your question about is there going to be language I think once you see the demonstration um you'll you'll know uh you'll know what I'm talking about >> and I can share a link with the board um afterwards so you can see the demo. >> I'm
029gonna practice my class. >> Yeah, it's fantastic. It's fantastic. >> Great. No, I mean I I get what you're saying about, you know, it's it seems like you said it's more fun and you say it's not >> Well, Right. Right. So, a student student doesn't get a student is encouraged to try and continue to try until they master the concept rather than get discouraged if they lose points when they get it wrong. And I think that's been a lot of the feedback we've had from my Excel over the years is that the student was just to that point of getting, you know, finishing and they got knocked out knocked down and they they went again. So this this sort of flips the conversation and encourages a student to continue on, you know, in in a
030in a more uh enticing sort of manner. >> Eventually, >> well, I don't know. I think those are things we have to those are things we'll talk about. We piloted it in in um some of the upper grades and I think with the lack of background knowledge we um you know the the feedback K2 was was great and the feedback um 36 was you know yeah so it's we'll we'll see as we go you know >> because it's a supplemental tool right >> yeah I mean it's we've got a million supplemental tools and you know across you know across K12 this is just another one of another one of those tools. >> Dan, have the parents um been involved in the discussion of this ST program because they were so critical of the ISL that
031I thought you were going to bring them into the discussion of the of this program. >> Well, yeah. Well, we have SRT this week where I was going to um talk about it. >> Okay. One final question. I'm just curious. Does it give the teachers a report of how the children are funded? >> Yeah. It gives them everything in real time. >> Anyone else? >> Okay, Dan, you have anything else? >> No, I don't. >> Okay. >> Uh, we have the minutes from the December 15th meeting, the regular and the um executive session. >> Okay. [Music] Any discussion? All right. All in favor? All right. President report. There is no report [Music] and public comment. This portion of the meeting is open to members of the public for the purpose of addressing the resolution of
032it 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 5 minutes per speaker will be allowed until the 30 minutes period transpires. All members of the public speaking during this public comment period are asked to address topics listed in the agenda. All speakers are asked to sign a registered provided and to use 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 respond to your website if appropriate. The board asked that members of
033the public be courteous and respectful of the rights of other individuals for speeding. 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 reported to them by the law 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. Mr. Anyone who wanted >> No, no one uh >> contact anyone from the public. [Music] >> Okay. >> All in favor? >> Okay. Now, I need a motion. >> Couple minutes.
034>> Hold on. I'd like to make a few edits to the agenda. On first of all, on page eight, Personnel Student Affairs Resolution number 25, we can strike through the name Michelle Manion and pull that name from the agenda. And then on that same page, number 27, we're going to add a name to the academic support club. The name is Rosemary Jansen, J A N Sen. And it says Aptua School. [Music] And then on page 10 at the top of the page, personnel student affairs resolution number 31, we're going to add a name. The teacher name is Serena. S Y R E N A. Last name capital L O capital R E and the assignment is National Honor Society and the stipend is 645.60. And then the last change is on the following page, page
03511. top of page 11, we have a just slightly alter the resolution. The top paragraph where it says now therefore be it resolved. We're going to strike out the last sentence from where it says then employees serving in the same department with employee will do the same, then any other employee wishing to do a day may do so. you can strike that sentence fragment out. So that last sentence should read or that paragraph should read. Now therefore, be it resolved upon the recommendation of the superintendent that the board hereby approves the donation and transfer of one sick day per volunteer employee to employee number 4432 in the order designated on the list maintained in the business administrator's office such that employees serving in the same position as the employee will if they wish donate one
036day to one day each to the employee and be it further resolved and you can continue. Okay, that's it. Thank you. [Music] American and American. [Music] All righty. [Music] Okay. Um, education Kate, did you take that? >> Sure. >> Huh? Oh, we have to vote on the agenda. All in favor? >> I [Music] Okay. Okay. I like to present it by Any discussion? Okay. Both call. >> Mrs. Dwire. >> Yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Stevenson. >> Yes. >> Mr. Stillman. >> Yes. >> Mr. Oshinsky. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Romeo. >> Yes. >> Mr. Conklin. >> Yes. >> Mrs. O'Brien. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Van Djk. >> Yes. >> Okay. Thank you. Personnel student affair affairs Courtney approve 32 plus carrying 33 and 34. Okay. Is there any discussion? Okay. I was wondering and
037I know we talked about this last number 27. Um over some schools have more support after school than others. Um and so I was wondering if the teacher comes up next month or something and would like to decide that they can do that now. Maybe their child care is different. Maybe their situation's different. Is that still something you would look to do and what for instance only one of three does that? >> Yes. So yes absolutely it's it's a rolling process. However, I want to give a shout out to actually all these people. Thank you for doing it. Yeah. >> Um but here at Westbrook, Jed Casperson has taken on um many more hours um here to make sure that they can service as many kids. So, you know, big shout out to her for,
038you know, for for going ahead and doing that. So, we do not see that the West school students will be serviced any less than any any of the other schools. So, so my second family was commenting just that like other school districts are wishing that they were offered this and had this support for their students and I'm so thankful that we do and I'm really grateful for the school to do it and in a time like now we need it. So, thank you. >> Right. It's a it's a standing offer. So, as you know, this is something that isn't going away. Um, kids will continuously need support and we can add more to the agenda next next month if need be. Right. >> So, under that item, it says hourly rate and it says not
039to exceed 20 hours. Will we do the right thing for 10 then? You said she's taking on many more hours, >> right? So, between now and the next um she'll be adjusted at the next board meeting. >> Okay. >> She'll continue. We're not they're not going to finish these hours between now and the next board meeting. So, Yeah. So, I think the number we talked about that she's going to start off scheduling uh approximately 30 hours worth and then we can adjust from there. >> Any other questions, discussion, comments? Okay. Uh roll call. >> Mrs. Stevenson. >> Yes. >> Mob O'Brien. >> Yes. >> Mr. Greeno. [Music] All of >> Mr. Oinsky. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Romeo. >> Yes. >> Mr. Conlin. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Dwire. >> Yes. >> Mr. Stillman. >> Yes. >>
040Mrs. Van Dyk. >> Yes. >> Okay. Operations and finance. J. >> A second. J. Okay. Um, discussion. I I just have a comment, not a comment, but um, in the third paragraph under number one where it says certain staff members, I really think that should be clarified as it was later on. You know, the certain staff members, you know, you wonder is it it should be it should say within the unit >> within the same with they're from within the same uh unit. >> Yeah. Well, that's what it I think it should just to be >> more specific. Any other comments, Kate? >> Um, I need to also comment on the idea. Number one, I am very, you know, I think I support that. I think it's incredible. Um, especially coming up in a negotiation
041area. I think all units should look to do that at the beginning um, and have it set up rather than something that is done as other districts do. I just wanted to make that comment. I can see Barbara shake her head no. I'm not sure why, but um I think that the sit bank is helping our community and our employees for each unit is how I did. >> Can I speak >> any other comments or discussion? >> Mrs. Dan Dyke has a comment. >> Okay, Lenny, >> I I just wanted to to add that we have discussed what Kate just said in the past. However, I think the board felt that it should be done on a need on a need basis and and looked at for not that we would turn anyone down, but
042that to look at the true need of why that person needed it. So, I I think to build it into as a standard thing would take away what we're doing here. It's almost like telling people they'd have to do it. So, although I understand where she's coming from, I think we we felt that we should look at it case by case. Any other comments or discussion? Can I roll, please? [Music] >> Mr. Oinsky, >> yes. >> Mrs. Stevenson, >> yes. >> Mr. Greeno, >> yes. >> Mrs. O'Brien, >> yes. >> Mr. Stillman, >> yes. >> Mrs. Dwer, >> yes. >> Mrs. Romeo, >> yes. >> Mr. Conklin. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Van Dyk. >> Yes. >> Okay. Dave number seven. >> Number seven. >> Second. >> Okay. Roll call. Mr. >> Mr. Oinski. >> Yes.
043>> Mrs. Stevenson. >> Yes. >> Mr. Gino. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Bler. >> Yes. >> Mr. Stillman. >> Yes. >> Mrs. O'Brien. >> Yes. >> Mr. Conlin. >> Yes. >> This is Romeo. >> Mrs. Van Dyke. >> Stay. >> Okay. Number eight. >> 13. [Music] >> Any questions, discussions, comments? I want to say thank you to Barbara for consolidating them. >> No discussion, no comments, no questions. Okay. Roll for >> Mr. Oshinsky. >> Yes. >> Mr. Go. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Stevenson. >> Yes. >> M. O'Brien. >> Yes. >> Mr. Stillman. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Dwer. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Romeo. >> Yes. >> Mr. Conklin. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Van Dyk. Yes. >> Policy. >> I'd like to make a motion to approve items number one and two under policy [Music] comments. >> I
044just said finally. So, I just want to say thank you and um you know, since I've been on the board, number one, it's been probably the number one thing that I've put a lot of time and energy and passion and voice into. And um we've gone around and around and been well over a year working on the policy and making changes and a lot of talk and a lot of differences of opinions and a lot of compromise and doing the right thing for our students and our staff. And um thank you everyone. I just want to say that because although you know there's things we all disagree on, we all work really hard on that. [Music] >> Okay. [Music] >> Mrs. Romeo, >> yes. >> M O'Brien. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Stevenson. >> Yes. >>
045Miss Oshinsky. Yes. >> Mr. Stillman. Yes. >> Mr. Conklin. Yes, >> Mr. Gino. >> Yes, >> Mrs. Dwer. >> Yes, >> Mrs. Van Dyk. >> Yes. >> Thank you, Kate. Okay. Report Park and Recreation. [Music] >> Okay. Uh, safety, Mrs. Um, we're going to have we have a meeting scheduled for uh February 4th. It's a remote meeting. >> Okay. Food round table will take place on this Thursday. >> Terry, is that a remote meeting or can people attend remotely? Does it res? >> Uh, it's not remote. No. >> So, parents that are regulars don't have the option to attend remotely? >> Uh, I it's never been done. Okay. No. And this is where you think, uh, each school usually has an alternate that they said. >> So, uh, we try to get representation from every
046school. They usually have a a member plus an alternate. So, somebody usually can attend. If there's nobody there for a school, they simply get the notes from somebody else. >> My thoughts are just these are parents in our community whose students are on hybrid. It's during the school day, their students are home. and you know um I just thought that that would be something to look into um that I I was thinking about that. I think they if I could just say I think we've talked about that at the meeting at once or twice and uh the parents that are there exactly what Alex said if they couldn't come they have an alternate that will come and and the way we set up the meeting I think it works best for the people who are
047the representatives because they know what cohort their kids are in >> and th those parents that are on that committee they do bring concern concerns of the people in their school to the m the meeting. It's just not them. It's it's questions from the whole school population. So, okay. Anything else? All right. The State County School Boards Association. Um I have nothing. Uh have you heard anything, Debbie? I signed up for a Zoom meeting on February 8th. Oh, it's February 8th. Okay. Um, New Jersey School Boards Association. Nothing at this time. Um, legislative, Mr. Couple of places in the works. Uh, the number of mental health programs. Uh, A443 encourages school districts to partner with institutional higher education, uh, transport health service providers. Uh A434 establishes student wellness grant programs for Department of Education. A
0484435 require children family children to certain school districts uh students mental health counseling centers and awarded grants under the schoolbased use program. Just as a side note, 1987 I was at the community centers of mental health where the purp school based youth service program was piloted after the burfield suicide. I remember that blossom but you know strong working on that [Music] to assistant coordinator counselor students [Music] Okay. Color prevention measures for cooperative purchasing 84.61 on 4454 SB 2781 uh diversity and inclusion staff by both houses and police signature for diversity and inclusion education program. uh S990 computer science required according to education computer science courses. Uh uh that's 3033 energy stimulus program upgrade your water and ventilation. I think we got the ventilation done. I think they reported like coming um A1616 suicide prevention student
049ID court require like a hotline number information suicide prevention on the student ID court. >> Uh any questions discuss? >> Yeah. How lucky are we that you did such a thorough report? Thank you. Um, a lot of what Steve just talked about was a lot of wellness and mental health. You mentioned a wellness grant. I I really would encourage us to look into that. I think that, and I said this as an educator in my own classrooms, my own colleagues, when this pandemic is over, our children are going to need a lot of help. And I think we're in a district where it's still beneficial that our children are having some lunch time and some recess time all back together again. We're going to see some things that need um our help and I think
050I would encourage our administration to be proactive with this especially if there's a grant that we can apply for. I don't believe the grant information is out yet. But once you do it, if it's something that [Music] I said I spoken about on a half day schedule, I said that we should stay half day and just do social emotional learning for the rest of the afternoon when the pandemic is over. I think it's just going to be it's going to be a big thing. Dave on the um diversity um mand is that if it's going to be a mandate is the state going to provide guidance for the type of curriculum we have to provide for that >> uh but under the bill commissioner of education provides school districts with sample learning activities and resources
051designated to promote diversity diversity. Okay. >> Yeah. Remember that state mandate, state pay, it's going to happen though. >> Okay. >> Could be could be an unfunded mandate. >> Like they all >> Yeah. Okay. West Mil, any other questions, comments? All right. West Milford uh Alliance. Kate and uh Courtney and Debbie. You want to talk about something? >> We have a meeting in January. I don't know if we talked about it or not. I have my notes here. I feel like a lot of it is things that we've already talked about here kids programs. Um they're talking about perhaps doing a virtual national night out program all stuff from them. So in the works everything okay comments discussion? Okay. old business. >> I forgot a couple things from technology. >> Oh, I'm sorry. I forgot
052all about you, right? >> That's okay. they had mentioned the branding piece discussion that we have um in technology and some of that has to do with maybe looking at the website and I think the two big issues out there for us are what we're going to do with board meeting and how we are going to better manage our system because we do need an upgrade etc. And then for the schools, I I I think we've been talking about this probably since um before Dan started teaching in the district, the upgra system. >> We really need to do something about um [Music] schools. And then uh just to add on to that is I think we're getting close to doing some things with regards to security hopefully for high school and maybe hopefully sometime in
053the very near future upgrading. I think cameras are there for you that might be able to >> Yeah. [Music] old business. Okay. Um I want to say that the you know contractor tracing I had say thank you Liz. I know that that is a job within itself that is enormous. Thank you for always answering my questions about it. Um I think we're in a scary time and it doesn't seem like we're getting out of it, you know. Um a lot of numbers this month and um again I just want to say please we everyone thank you for going virtual with the high school and we need to continue to do those things. Don't be afraid to do what's right for our community and keeping us safe. Um, I know everybody wants to be back in
054the building, but we have to worry about safety first as every everywhere, everyone. And um, you know, I told you you're not going to be in the meeting without me mentioning it until this is over. So, um, thank you for your hard work. I know that none of this is easy to administration, to our teachers, to our principles, everyone. I mean, this it's terrible. you know, thank you to our parents and you know, um it's just I um we're in a scary time and you know, if we need to look to go have the either we need to look to do, don't be afraid to make changes that are best for our kids and our safety and I just wanted to say that. Thank you, >> Courtney. Um I don't like >> I just wanted
055to comment on the people who um spoke at the last meeting. I feel like when the public comes to speak to us, I find it so informative. The baseball um people who spoke last week were so informative and had so many great points. I don't want to stop talking about the field because I think it's so good for our kids and for our community. Um and I just want to mention that I think that the field should be for all sports, not just baseball. I love baseball. my kids play baseball. But I just wanted to throw that out there that I think as a board we need to look at what's best for as many children as possible. Um, and what area we would be looking to um renovate that would be the best most
056beneficial for as many kids as we possibly can help. Thank you. Right. >> And that's great because I piggy back on that. I think that was some of the discussion that they spoke about how you could use that field for lacrosse and soccer and you could probably do something completely different with the field up top, you know, play grass and maybe do some different things as opposed to the fields that are there now. So I think it could provide some more opportunity for the field again anytime. >> Anyone else? [Music] Okay. Um, did I say old business? Is that what we were talking about? Okay, good. That's >> includ No, not yet cuz I'm not done. >> Sorry. >> Uh, the heating system at the high school, the heat, the classrooms without the heat. Has
057that been fixed? You said it would be fixed within the week at our last meeting. >> They're they they were supposed to start today. It's not a one day job. It's multiple days. They have to replace the piping in a number of classrooms. >> Okay. >> So, um they were scheduling it and they were supposed to start today, Tuesday. So, hopefully by the time the students return next week, it'll be done. Okay. The other question I have is the um we talked about the property behind McAppin that was for sale. Did we do anything about that? >> No, we haven't. Okay. And the third thing is um parents have called a number of us about that $75 parking fee at the high school. >> 50. Has anything been done about that? >> No, it hasn't
058been addressed by the board. >> I thought we did talk about it. >> No, we we did talk about it, but nothing is has changed. >> So, how do we $5 a month for anyone that's going to park? I know, but you know, I mean, I don't Can we talk about it on a future agenda? >> We can put it on the um next finance committee agenda if you want. >> Yeah, I think that would be good. Do Do you agree? >> Yeah. Okay. All right. Any other old business? Right. >> Well, since this is the budget regular meeting, >> how uh Barbara, how are you doing with that? getting ready for >> we're getting there >> for the season. Um >> we're getting there. The book should be ready. If not by uh the
059end of this week, then definitely the beginning of next week. >> Definitely before the next committee meeting. >> Super busy. >> Have Have we heard anything about um how the state is going to punish us again with >> We're anticipating about 2.5 million. >> Wow. Wow. Okay. But we won't know until he he releases that information. >> It It is an election year though, so there's hope there, I think. >> Oh gosh. >> Does anyone else have anything from old business? Okay. Motion to close all business. >> Motion to close all business. >> I'll second. >> Okay. All in favor? >> I. >> Okay. New business. Kate. Um, I don't know. I just want to say thank you to Joe Jordan and our TV science program. How amazing. On Friday night, uh, was the the
060big debut of their new YouTube channel. If no one's heard of this, I'm white Joe out there. Um, hello all. I'm a current TV science teacher at West High School and I've uncovered many VHS tapes. Remember those VHS? Oh god. that have been in storage for years at the school. We spent hours converting many of the teeth to digital and have come up with a new show called West Melbourne where we go back in time and publish old Highlander News broadcast, sporting and special events and recognition assemblies on our YouTube channel which should be linked hopefully if not already to our website. Um, happy to announce the First Time Machine episodes debuted on Friday the 22nd of January. And lastly, if anyone out there has any old VHS tapes or film or any West Milford
061High School content, they would be happy to convert them and possibly air for a future Time Machine show. With that, I also want to comment I was really happy to see I had no idea that our bathrooms used to not have doors on the stall. So when I watched this show, there was someone very close to me who was interviewed um and uh now very close >> very close to me. My husband was interviewed at the show in 1990 or whatever on the first debut and there were no doors on the boys stalls in the high school. So I'm glad they announced we have those today. So it was hysterical. >> What did that mean? >> Yeah. Sorry. So thank you to Joe Jordan and the program. That was so fun. I just like seeing
062the clothes back then like we look like that back then. >> I'm excited to see future things. >> So the first video they did was class 1990. Uh but I also I think I was messaging Alex. I was watching the one of the girls basketball scrimmages in high school the other day. I mentioned earlier they're going to be the sports programs. They're going to be live. There's no cost. You can subscribe to their channel. I subscribe to the channel so I get all the things in my YouTube feed which is pretty awesome. >> I won't miss any of those events. Anyone else? Okay. Second. Okay. All right. All in favor? >> Okay. Public comment. This portion of the meeting is open to members of the public having legitimate interest to the actions of the board
063for the purpose of addressing any subject matter to and or directly related to the operation of the West Milford School District. Members of the public who are request requested to speak prior to meeting will be recognized by the chair first. Each speaker will be given 5 minutes for a period of 30 minutes and then time permitting other public comment limited 5 minutes per speaker will be allowed until the 30 minutes provide until the 30 minute period transpires. All speakers are asked to sign the register. Give their full names spell their last name with affiliation if 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 um considered and a response will be forthcoming if and when appropriate. The
064board specifically comments regarding students and employees of the board are disturbed and the board and the administration will not respond to them. Students and employees have specific legal rights afforded to them by the law in New Jersey. The board is not responsible and is not liable for any crimes 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. Is there anyone who wishes to speak? Yes, sir. Eric Loenstein. L O W E N S T E I N 15 Alpine Lane. Good evening. My name is Eric Loenstein and I am currently president of the West Milford Football Association. I am here
065tonight in favor of the new fields. First and foremost, I love the game of football. Please do not get me wrong. There is nothing wrong with other sports, but football holds a special place in my heart. However, I believe all youth and high school sports are important. No, it is not because they are in training for a scholarship or just maybe they will get a reduction in tuition. They are important because of the life lessons they will carry with them until they leave this earth. They get to learn the value of hard work. Youth and high school sports teach our children that race, religion, popularity, and even political affiliation disappear when they step on the field. They get to see firsthand that when everyone is working towards one common goal, all of the other insignificant
066stuff no longer matters. Hopefully, every time our children compete, they get to experience winning. However, we all know that will they will that they will inevitably experience losing. In my opinion, it's those moments, the moments they come up short, those are the most teachable to be able to understand the mistakes you made, how you can improve, and possibly the most important lesson to be able to ask yourself, was I a good teammate? In my six years as a youth coach in West Milford, I have been fortunate enough to see the excitement on a kid's face when they make a great play, even when they are not the most gifted athlete. I have been a part of witnessing a child work hard since day one. Then halfway through the season, a light go a light bulb
067goes off and they get it. I have even seen third and fourth graders hold each other accountable, resolve issues, and come to a resolution without coach intervention. I have seen those things because the field is the great equalizer. WMFA currently uses the high school turf field for our games, Howard and Presbyterian for our practices. We really do not have a place to store our equipment. Our equipment is currently kept at Hillrest. We are grateful for this, however. The facility is not climate controlled. As a result, a lot of our cheer and football equipment had to be thrown away and was not able to be used. We had to purchase 20 new helmets due to the mold that grew in them. Now, while new helmets are not a bad thing, it was an unforeseen expense nonetheless.
068Scheduling games and usage of the turf is not the easiest, I could not even imagine what it would be like if it were not for Sue Papis and Joe Trancasta. They deserve all of our appreciation and thanks. To sum it up, I am asking for more fields. Field with future plans for snack stands. Snack stands where kids can get community service hours. Snack stands where parents can pay a 14-year-old in this community to cover their shift. A way outside of sports to teach kids responsibility. More fields for field hockey, lacrosse, baseball, soccer, and most importantly, football. Fields where the children of the sixth grade schools in our community can come together before middle school. a field for that child who moves to another school within our town or just moves into town to get acclimated,
069another avenue for these kids to make friends. Youth and high school sports help teach the children of our community lessons they will take with them for the rest of their lives. Maybe even if we are lucky, it will teach them we are all in this together, that they are not bigger than the team. A place for our kids to experience some of what Theodore Roosevelt said on April 23rd, 1910. a place to spend themselves in a worthy cause. Who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement. And who at the worst, if they fail, at least fail while daring greatly, so that their place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory or defeat. Thank you. [Music] >> Anybody else? Anybody email or >> No. Okay.
070[Music] No. Sorry. Okay. All right. Uh motion to close public comments. Okay. All in favor? Okay. Executive um session. We're only going to do attorney service tonight. motion to personel. [Music] >> The only [Music] and no second. >> Okay. All in favor? I >> Okay. Um All right. I guess we will. [Music] Thank you. >> I think we're done. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> All right. So, I will talk to you guys soon. Thank you, Mike.