001Please rise for the flag. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. In accordance with the provisions of the open public meeting act, a public notice of this meeting has been sent to board members, all districts, all district schools, the Herald News, the suburban trends, the record, the messenger, West Milber town hall, the county superintendent office, the boarding, and cable vision of war and posted in the administration building. Copies of the board meeting calendar resolution were provided to all local media, town hall, the township library, and all district schools. >> Mrs. Francisco, Mrs. Romeo >> here, Mrs. Stevenson >> here, >> Mr. Council >> here, >> Mrs. Dwire here, >> Mr. Dino
002>> here, >> Mrs. Fritz >> here, >> Mr. Oinsky >> here, >> Mr. Stillman >> here, >> Mrs. Van Dyke >> here. >> Dr. Anamone, your report. Uh yes, good evening everybody. Welcome to our January regular meeting. I'm going to start off by giving the microphone to Mr. Rena, our student representatives. >> All right. Uh good evening everyone. The district is busy this month and that trend continues as we approach the month of February. West Milber students are always looking way for ways to give back to those in need. For example, on January 14th to February 14th, each department is collecting donations to donate to local food pantries to local uh pantries in a fundraiser called fill the bus in which they are looking to fill an entire school bus of things to donate to
003the pantries. In addition, Mackathan's annual give a goat night is coming up on January 31st where students get to watch teachers compete in a series of events and the proceeds they make from the event are don are donated to buy goats to help support villagers or villages around the world. Also, our classes are getting ready for the empty bowls event which is happening in March. On January 22nd, Westm High School hosted the winter open mic night in the lower library where students and staff were able to recite poetry, sing, and play an instrument in front of an audience. On January 31st, the ASVAB test will be administered to the high school students willing to take it. In addition, on February 12th, the guidance department will be hosting a college panel night where students will get
004to listen to college admissions adviserss who will be talking about the admissions process and what makes a great applicant. Also, the parent portal is open for students to pick uh their classes for the next school year. Our winter our winter sports athletes are doing great during their season. In girls basketball, Ashley Jacobs reached a careerhigh of 26 points and 15 rebounds, which puts her in the top five in regards to most points scored in a game in in the history of the program. The bowling team is doing great with a a nearly undefeated season. On January 25th, West Milford High School hosted the Pay County Wrestling Tournament in which Josh Gering won third place in. The boys and girls fencing teams are doing great in their meets with multiple athletes still going undefeated. The boys
005and girls swim teams are also doing a great job in their season. And on January 18th, West Milford indoor color guard hosted a competition at West Mer High School where multiple groups performed. And last weekend they achieved first place in their first competition of the season. February 8th, Becca attended third annual district competition at Ramop College in which Rebecca Benowitz, Faith MacArthur, and Raina Singleton all placed top in in the revention qualified for the state competition. Are there any questions? >> What is the state of the MG? >> I do not know that. I think it's March. >> I did. I >> Thank you. >> That's it. Thank you so much. uh monthly progress towards district goals. On the agenda tonight, we will be hiring. We'll hopefully be hiring two uh teachers called intervention specialists.
006This these spots will be paid for with title funds. And there's one for upper Greenwood Lake and one for Marshall Hill. These are two teachers that we're hiring for a short period of time between now and the state test in April. They will be working dedicated with our what we call bubble kids or kids who are on the cusp of passing or failing the state test. We have a lot of data that we've gathered this year through our STAR math assessments, report cards, LinkedIn assessments, and they should have a lot of data walking in the door. They really won't need any time to they'll get they'll have to get to know the kids, but they will know the kids academically because they'll be handed a portfolio when they walk in the door. These are your
007students. These are where they're strong. This is where they're very weak. And you have eight weeks or so to bring them up to where you want them to be. Um that's uh thank you for your support. Um that's always a nice uh >> uh item that Mr. Mil puts together. Um after school sports and special event security, we've been spending a lot of time uh we've invested a lot of time and money in our security updates over the past couple of years. Um some of which we have talked about very openly. Other things we've discussed behind closed doors due to the uh sensitive nature of that. Um we've we had a few administrators attend in the past couple weeks a uh seminar statewide about um after school um sports and special event security. So much
008of what we do is during the school day, how do we have a lockdown? How do we have a shelter in place? What do we do with students when they're at recess or fizz class? But very little is talked about after school hours and we still have a lot of school events going on in particular at the high school. So, we are planning uh with our athletic department, high school administration, a school security event at an upcoming athletic event date time to be determined. So, we're going to basically drill at one of our games before, after halftime, stuff. We're still working out the kinks, but that is coming down the road. Um the more you train, the better off you are. So, more to follow on that. Uh maximum transition update. Um, our maximum team
009has been working on the schedule. We discussed in December, we had a PowerPoint um that looked something like this. I just updated now. There was a concern that the sixth grade lunch was originally scheduled for sixth period. There was some feedback that even though it's only 12:30 in the afternoon, the kids are up so early in the morning to get the bus that it's a long time for their lunch. So, it's not finalized yet, but they tend to schedule in front of you here. It swaps out the sixth grade lunch from 6th period to fourth period, which is a little earlier than lunchtime, but it's it's probably 10:15ish. >> Mhm. >> 10:20 maybe. So, it's a little early. Um, but it's probably better than it's a little too late. So, um, this is the newest
010tenative schedule from um, has not been finalized yet, but we hope to have it finalized. And lastly, we have a uh nice number of people coming here tonight. Uh thank you all for coming. I know it's a busy time here for everybody. But every year we give a major state assessment. It used to be called the NJS for the park. Last year we gave for the first time something called the NJSLA, the student learning assessment. This is a state exam that basically mimics the park. Uh and we use it in New Jersey only. The park was a national assessment. New Jersey pulled itself out of that national tested consortium uh and they and now it makes it the NJSLA. It's a test that's very rigorous. It really cracked the park exam in so many ways.
011So it's a different acronym but a very simple very similar test. So we do have a nice quote here from Vince Lombardi. It says perfection is not attainable but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence. And what we have here tonight is some students who caught that perfection. They took the NJSLA last year in math and English and they received a perfect score of 850 on one or the other. So Mr. We have some certificates for them here. Mr. Novak will be over here. I'm going to call the students up. They come up to Mr. Novak. Get your certificate. Mom and dad feel free to jump in this little well over here if you want to get a photo. We'll try to move uh as slowly as we can. Bordon Edelstein, perfect score, English
012language arts. >> Good job, >> Lauren Harmon. Purpose score mathematics. [Applause] David Van Tessel, purpose for mathematics. [Applause] Mus Cardona, purpose for English language arts. >> Congratulations, >> Megan Sedner. Perfect score, English language arts. [Applause] Sierra Davis, purpose for English language arts. [Applause] [Laughter] Amanda Dejakimo, Purpose Core, PLA, [Applause] Nadia Felipe, Purpose for ELA. [Applause] Connor Garulo, perfect score ELA. [Applause] Matthew Vanderolene, perfect score ELA. [Applause] Sarah Polar, Purpose Score, ELA. Sarah Chandler, Purpose Score, ELA. [Applause] Hazen, perfect score ELA. Ryan Humble, perfect score, ELA. [Applause] Riley Lane, perfect score, PLA. Leah Payne, purpose score, ELA. [Applause] Cory Roberto, purpose score ELA. Maya Rooney, perfect score ELA. [Applause] Thank you very much. I know we had some youth sports tonight. Some of our high schoolers couldn't make it, but uh congratulations to everybody. I hope
013to see you here again next year. [Applause] >> Congratulations to all of you. should all be very proud of yourself for coming and Mr. >> Thank you. [Laughter] You're welcome. >> Take care. Great job. >> Absolutely. >> And we're back to >> There you go. I will congratulate. Okay. Sorry, I know we have a report coming. So, I'm going to be I'm going to be brief. I just want to uh comment briefly on um we've talked a lot about the Makaban transition. One of the areas that we were um I guess very excited about that didn't always come to the forefront was how we are going to uh work to enhance our kindergarten through fifth grade environment, the K5 schools now having the the opportunity to move our sixth grade to the to the middle
014school. Uh so, just a number of um number of processes in place. Uh, one of those, um, enhancements that we foresee is the ability to reorganize and, um, I guess expand upon our Encore program, which in, um, for lack of a better term, it's our basic skills program. We call it Encore here in West Milford. I know that's um, not typically how it's how it's named in other places. Um so currently we have a um process where our encore teacher is either a full-time teacher in our um schools that are eligible for title funds and we have a 0.5 or half-time teacher in our schools that are not eligible for title funds. We are going to be able to uh maximize more on on their time uh you know removing an entire grade level. Uh
015we are in in the process of looking at those schedules and really taking this moment to capitalize on the work we've done um as Dr. Enma mentioned earlier um resources such as uh STARM math and and link we can greater target those standards uh that that we find to be in need at a particular grade level or a particular group of students at you know during those time periods. So uh we see Encore as being greatly enhanced. I had an opportunity to work with our learning unlimited teacher who is uh named Julie Chesher. She works at the uh Marshall Hill School and she currently services uh students in grades kindergarten through six. She works explicitly with grades uh students in grades 2 through six. she is going to remain in the K5 setting and be
016able to service more students, expand to lower grade levels so we can have a more uh a more involved process in grades one and two than we have had in the past. So we're also working with the uh Makipin uh the Makabin process to make sure that there are enrichment opportunities and and uh greater offerings for enrichment and and differentiated opportunities in the middle school for those sixth graders as they come in. they're going to be able to choose from a number of electives that they don't currently have access to um in the in the elementary school. So, we see that as a uh a great enhancement for uh for our LU um students. We are also in the process of looking at our K5 report card. Uh this presents an opportunity for us again
017to take a look at what a what a K5 climate looks like. It was always challenging for us to have a report card that, you know, met the needs of a first grader while also meeting the needs of a of a sixth grader. So, uh, our report card committee met, uh, about two weeks ago. We have a follow-up, uh, meeting in place. One to adjust the sixth grade report card to be reflective of their move over to over to Makipin and then to take a closer look at our K5 report card to make sure that we are doing all the things that we should be doing for the traditional um, K5 K5 environment. uh we there's a number of other uh discussions going on. So that that's really what the the overall message that I
018want to I guess share with you tonight is that uh we're you know one of the I guess one of the comments or or concerns leading up to this to the the decision and the vote was are we ready? Will we be there? And you know I can say with with tremendous um confidence that we are we're on our way and and those those really deep conversations are are already happening. Those committees are being scheduled. uh at the February uh board meeting hopefully for personnel and education. We'll be able to present our curriculum plans for revision for looking at you know how we how we adjust sixth grade, how we adjust K5 based on based on this move. So hopefully in February we'll be able to get that approved so our teachers can can start
019working. We've had some preliminary meetings with um the teachers who are potentially moving um to Makabin. So, we've been able to um you know, kind of get that set that tone and and have Mr. Stry meet them and welcome them um to Makipin and then um and then um you know, take a look how that moves forward. Um shifting away from that, I just also wanted to round back to the um discussion of fingertip reports, which is a uh item I talked about in Lincoln that we are um looking to send home with this uh second marking period report card. the first um uh sorry on Monday we'll be sending our paper report cards home K6 that will be inclusive of star math reports and our um link fingertip report which is going to compare
020the link benchmark assessment A with linkit benchmark assessment B um which is our standardsbased assessment that we've been we've been talking a lot uh talking a lot about here um so I'm excited to send that home and and you know give our our parents a glimpse at the the things that our staff are are looking at um a lot lately looking at in their PLC meetings, faculty meetings and and just how they how they guide instruction. >> And that's it. >> I think you wanted me to comment on my social >> Oh, I'm sorry. And also one of the other thing coming back to the um you know looking at K5, we are also looking at how we are able to reorganize and capitalize on our um current counseling environment now that we have you
021know an entire grade level being removed more time in their schedules and and being able to really meet the needs of a of a K5 school. >> Right. So we are so you know at the last at the presentation in December we mentioned about some of the things we were going to be doing to restructure the um counseling and mental health providers. So the main thing is that we are not touching at the elementary level those social workers that are our um school social workers on the gened side that also service the special education students. We are not planning to move any of them to the middle school because so they will have a decrease in their load which we talked about. So, some of the things that we're planning for to be able to
022that will they they will be able to use their time better is in the area of running more counseling groups, having more structured groups that are proactive by grade level. So, the best way to say it is that all grades will be touched, all students will be touched, all needs will be able to be addressed. Whereas, right now with, you know, if you're decreasing by 100 students roughly per case load, they they should have more time to be able to run those groups more consistently. Um, we also plan to have them involved in INRS um, more readily. This way they are a big part of that. So, we're still meeting with principles on what that's going to look like. We hope to run schoolwide workshops and some trainings for different teachers at different times to
023be able to get the word out about mental health and, you know, screening for students and and that type of thing. Um, we hope to run more social skills. Right now, they have added friendship groups, stress management, mindfulness, coping skills, lunch bunches, organizational skills. We're hoping to increase with executive functioning skills in certain groups, but these groups will be able to now be run consistently so that what we're hoping to do is that if PK has a specific group, it will also be offered at let's say a Westbrook and a Maple Road. This way our we're running these these lessons, if you will, in the classroom, pushed in, recess, lunch, but it will be consistent so that all students have access because I think we've been a little inconsistent depending on the needs and who
024was being pulled in certain directions. That sounds awesome. >> Yeah. So, that's that's the plan, but we're still in the tomorrow after after administrative council meeting. We're meeting with the with the principles. Then we have a meeting with all of our support staff. This way they can help us also plan for next year. Go ahead. >> Can you remind me? I know we talked about it, but I forget. So, that was the K5. So, for now with the sixth graders in Mackaban, what the plan is for support with the counselors and things. >> Yes. So, we actually already started that planning um pretty pretty aggressively. So, I already met with the counselors at the middle school as well as our child study team and that we are going to be moving a child study team
025social worker to the middle school. That will be on the we're hoping to be in an upcoming agenda. Um that social worker who we're planning to move, we've had the conversation with her. So, she will be a part of the next meeting which is running I think next week where we talk about what that's going to look like. Um, but we definitely feel like we can service now older students more efficiently by just restructuring our resources. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> And yeah, >> it's okay. Go ahead. >> I just had a question about going back to report cards since you are um revamping them. It sounds like Dan, is there any discussions of doing trimesters for the elementary school? >> There is there is there is discussion. >> Great. Yeah. >> Yeah. We
026uh when we we first revised our report card to look a little bit more standardsbased about >> I was going to ask that >> um 2015 we we did that >> and we talked about um trimesters then when we were shifting toward a greater presence of fontis and panel >> um but that that has come up again now that we're going back now that we're looking at a K5 um we're discussing it I'm not sure if we're there yet we're looking at a number of different um types of report cards to look I will I'll have um all that information at education committee. >> That'd be great >> in February. >> I think elementary teachers would find it so helpful to do trimesters, especially in the September time because they're typically getting to know their
027students, doing a ton of diagnostics, running records, and to have that extra time to then be able to say to parents exactly what's happening. It just makes it a whole heck of a lot easier for them. I just wanted to follow up on the child study uh social worker that's moving to Macken is going to be working with both gen and special ed. >> Yes, correct. I should have also said that. Yeah. So, so what we've been talking about right now is just so that person will still be a child study team social worker, but what the PL because they obviously are not a school counselor, but what we are doing is we met with the counseling um department at the middle school to determine what are things that a school social worker could do
028to help support those students. So, that's some of the things that we've talked about. They they could still meet about attendance. They could still meet to find students that are at risk. They can still do screeners for them. Um so, there's a lot that they can do on that side. and they can also service a student that comes down because they're upset about something that happened in class. They can counsel students. So, we talked about what that role is going to look like. The plan is that the child study team role that person will have a reduced case load. >> Okay. >> So that they can service the the you know whatever other things come up at the building level. But yes, so they will be a support for both. Okay. >> Anybody else have
029any questions? >> But they're not going to have a case load of genetic kits. They're just going to assist the counselors that are already there with these types of things, screenings, that things. >> Yes. They're not going to have a case load the same way like the count the two counselors that are there or whatever counselors are there will be the ones that have become the school counselor, >> but they will like let's say that they start working with a family, right? And a and a student, they can continue to counsel that student even though the student may be a general education student. same way that our elementary social workers right now sometimes service students that have special needs even though they're a gened social worker. So we view it the same way. >> Anyone
030else? Okay. Um Mrs. Francisco >> um finally the moment you've all been waiting for. Um our annual audit. U Mr. Furry and Mr. Clearary are here to present the annual audit. I believe everyone received a copy of the the keer and the management report um over the last week. They will respond to any of your questions. >> You can look on with me. >> All right. Thank you for having us. Um so there's two documents that you received. One is the CAFRA which is the comprehensive annual financial report. That's the one with all the financial information in it. The smaller one is the management report which I like to call the report card because it has our comments and recommendations if there are any. Um, so as you can see the the CAFRA is in
031a very complex very complex document. It's got three different fund balances in because that's the way the state of New Jersey wants it. I don't make this stuff up. Um, the one schedule that I always go over with every board is exhibit C1. Exhibit C1 is the budget as presented to the board um that you voted on and it's under the budgetary basis of accounting which means that it's not skewed by any uh gap adjustments generally accepted accounting principle adjustments. The fund balance that's used in exhibit C1 is the fund balance you use in the following years to balance your budget. It's the document that the um Barbara will use um to balance to uh use for the budget coming up. It's very long schedule. Um it's a couple pages long. It starts off with
032your budget, your modified budget, revenues and expenditures. And then if it's a revenue, how much you realized in revenues. If it's taxes, how much you received in taxes. And then on the expenditure side, it's your expenditures plus incumbrances or purchase orders. Um, and then you come up with a fund balance every year. And actually, it started here a few years ago. Um, I get the question saying, Tom, it's only one year. I like to see what happens what happened last year. So I said, well, you would have to bring both your order reports. If you want to see three years, you'd have to bring three reports. So what I started doing is um putting together a schedule and it started last year. Um so what I have is a um generalization of your exhibit C1
033so you can compare it. I have three years this year. I have you the snapshot as of June 30th of 17, 18 and 19. And then what I did is for you I compared 18 with 19. So, we're going to hand these out and I'll go through them >> briefly. >> Thank you. >> I could spend three hours on the C >> if you want this year. Okay. So on the left hand side is 2017 and the top part is an analysis of your fund balance. So what I do um as I explain every year your fund balance is made up different components. Um so if you take let's take 2017 for instance $ 8.8 $8 million of fund balance of which capital reserve was 1.1 million uh maintenance maintenance reserve $500,000. Um and then
034in 2017 you actually um exceeded the 2% limitation the state puts on your fund balance uh which is called excess surplus. Excess surplus has to go into the following year's budget. I like to call it as taxpayer relief because it has to go and and you you have to use it as fund balance to lower the amount of taxes. Um and it happens to be a two years because in 17 you're already in the 1819 year. So it it goes it goes the two years after but it has to go at a minimum uh that dollar amount. So that was $2 million. Um coming over from previous years, you had excess surplus from previous years that was another 2.9 almost $3 million. Uh we had incumbrances 732,000 at the end of 17. Uh those are
035purchase orders as of June 30th that we take aside fund balance because we know we're going to pay those expenditures in the year the following year. So what we do is we yank those out as incumbrances or open purchase orders. And then what you're left with is the 2% number for that particular year, which was $1.4 million. So going um if you want to look totally um the the last column uh for 2019, it's the one just before the excessor deficit. That's the number that we have this year. So your fund balance this year was 9,165. Capital reserve was 1.8. Manage reserve was 300,000. you had excess surplus uh generated this year in well this year that's my year because I'm always a year behind. So in your 19 year you had excess surplus of
036uh 1,ion475 you had 2 uh 2 million uh almost 2.5 million and excess surplus uh generated from the previous years that have to go to it's going to go to the year 1920 which the year we're in right now. So, we used almost $2.5 million to balance this budget that we're in right now. Um, your uh reserve for incumbrances were $1.1 million and your 2% number for uh 19 was almost $1.9 million. Um, if you want to compare 18 with 19, uh, local sources is is your your tuition, your tax levy, um, yeah, um, and other local sources. um $54 million was $18, $55 million was 19. So that was an increase of $1.3 million. Um state aid was they had a slight decrease of $26,000. Federal sources, you had a small increase about $7
037million. On your expenditure side, you had um a decrease of $96,000 from 18 to 19. your capital um exp um your capital outlay expenditures increased $2.4 million. Um however there that was for the Barbara help me on this one. That was for the the capital expenditures was for the uh lease purchase >> bleachers did a lease purchase agreement for the bleachers. >> Okay. >> Right. >> Okay. So you had 2.4 $2.4 $.4 million on that. Um, you had other financing sources of 1.2 that was for the capital that was an offset to the capital leases because it's a non-budgeted expenditure. Um, so for 2019, you actually had in excess of $219,000. You started the year with um 8.9 million. You ended year with uh 9,165. All in all, not too bad. Um, your 2% number
038went up. That's always a good thing. Um, >> yeah, because of the increase in in the things that we had there, but >> Okay. >> But but a big difference from the previous year difference. So the um so what Barbara normally does is is adjusts takes the excess surplus and that's what you use uh to balance the next year's budget. Um it's planned out in advance when I when we do the audit. That's the first thing she wants to know um going into the following years. Um because you wanna it's a it's it's was forced down our throats the first year, but now it's almost like it's it's accepted and we just use it to balance the next year, the following year's budgets. And hopefully we do ex we have excess because again to have
039no excess surplus that means we have to dip into your 2% number which we really don't want to do and put more into capital reserve and into maintenance reserves that we're allowed to do. So, in a nutshell, that whole document um comes down to these numbers right here. Um the the only other thing that's the the other thing that's in here are your um your trust accounts, which is your payroll, your student activity funds. Um the special revenue fund, which is all your um your grant money. So really all you can do as a board is accept the money and expend it exactly the way this federal and state tell you to expend the money. Um and the other thing is the uh proprietary funds which is uh we proprietary means that it's almost supposed
040to run like a business. One of the fun one of the funds is the cafeteria fund and that's on page 26 if you want to follow along. Page 26 is your is your um balance sheet. On page 27 is your uh revenues. So the food service food service fund had 888,000 in revenues from daily sales. Had $1.3 million in expenditures including depreciation because it is a business um and includes depreciation expense. You had an operating loss of $447,000. However, we got state aid for the free um from the free reduced paid lunches 385,000. So, you wound up with a negative 62,000 and then the budget picks up the difference um your operating budget. Now, I always say that the food service fund should run like the deli down the street. It should be um self-
041sustaining. So, we're very close. Um I think this is probably closest that we've gotten a long time. Actually, we ran deficits years prior, so it's actually doing pretty good. Um hopefully next year we should have um it should break even at least. I think we're moving our sixth grade up in purchase lunches there. So, it's a broader the bigger cafeteria, more options. I think they don't purchase as much at the elementary school. I think we may see more purchasing next year. Okay. >> Uh the the school age child uh care program is actually running um a nice a nice little profit of 92,000. So that's that's running okay. Um besides that, besides C1 and and this is the only thing really the board can make uh decisions on. Um so on top of So anybody
042have any questions? I know it's a lot and I threw it at you really quick. Um, so besides that, of course, we do the auditing and um, we come in, we do all the test work. Um, so the level of an audit you get is a single audit. So the baseline audit is generally accepted auditing standards. That's that's what I like to call the foundation. That's the standard uh, for auditing standards. So if you're IBM, Ford, Chrysler, you get um generally accepted auditing standards. The second level which you also have which all my municipalities, school boards have is generally accepted government auditing standards. Generally accepted auditing government auditing standards uh makes us do a little more testing. They want us to look at the internal controls, the things in place to make sure that someone's
043checking everybody else's work and that uh it's government funds and state funds so that um you have good internal controls. Um the next level is what you're also at also um federal and state grants. Uh that's a single audit. So what that means is that we pick grants and we test them for compliance. So if it's an idea grant, it says make sure that you have X, Y, and Z. Now, it's not the same level as if the state came in and audited your title one, your title two, all your titles or idea, but it is very close. Normally, they audit almost close to 100% expenditures. We don't, but we do test compliance and make sure you're okay. Ryan's going to go over the one comment you had this year because of what we were
044you you were kicked up to that single audit level so that we had to check compliance. So, we did find a compliance error with that. Um, and it I always tell my school boards and and municipalities, it's not a bad thing. I said, you hire us as your auditors to make sure everything's okay. I'm like your doctor. So, you go to the doctor for a checkup and you don't want him lying to you and say, "Oh, you're fine. Meanwhile, your blood pressure is up here. So, it's very fixible. The kind of thing that we did find um and while we do find it, by the way, Barbara is made aware of it. Um as soon as we find a problem, um or any problems, we don't wait till we get here to drop a bomb
045on Barbara and she falls off her chair. >> So, she knows about it in July or August whenever we're at we're at the school district. So, um that's all I really have unless you have any questions. Ryan's going to go over the one comment and that's it. >> Thank you. >> All right. Thanks, Tom. Um, so as Tom mentioned, we came in, we uh did a level of audit where we really get in and look at some of the state and federal programs. Um, this year, Extraordinary Aid was a what we consider a major program. Um, I believe was a little over a million one in grant received and spent. Um the way extraordinary a works is that certain students are um determined to have special extraordinary costs. Um and the uh I believe the
046child study team is able to compile a bunch of data and submit to the state. Here's all the costs for each of these individual students and the state will come up with based on a long formula uh an amount amount of aid. I think the application goes in in May and then actually it's received in the next school year. Um, so when we come in and take a look at that, we end up checking um, I think about 85% of the students that are submitted for this type of aid and we look at all the costs and different services that are provided to these students and make sure that they are um, correctly reported in the application. through our test work, we ended up finding one situation where one of the students aids was um
047submitted at a dollar amount that did not agree with their employment contract. So, I mean, that's the gist of what the write up is. It's um it's on page four of the AMR, the lower report. Uh I think the the dollar amount was maybe negligible and I at the end of the day this the amount of aid received or not received um could be talking about less than $100. So but we have what's called you know it's a non non uh immaterial compliance issue um and we're required to report on it >> because we also have auditors check our stuff. >> So auditors have auditors. So if we had a a finding in the report and we failed to put it in the the audit report, we would get a finding in that um we
048could actually having a finding in our audits are are really devastating for us. So it's just in our workpapers and it's a required um thing that we need to do. >> Having one is like really impressive. >> It's pretty impressive. >> Is this one mistake really just human error? Um it could come down to a number of things likely. Um it's it's possible that um the teacher received an increase during the year. Um and maybe the prior contract was used, but that wasn't the one that was applicable at the time of the application. >> That was extended by a few days. Got it. >> So that's why the the cost difference was $36.80. >> Yeah. It it was like something that when we went back and we double checked it was it was there and
049we then figured out like okay it was it was an error and it was in our minds a minor error because $36 considering the full amount but that's not to say that we I think you're right about the learning. So we take from it and we say like okay how could we catch that amount next time. So now we're just like triple checking the the contracts and and what we submit. >> So we find it we move on and then it will happen again. >> Right. Well, I can remember for years sitting here and having multiple things. So, one to me says kudos to Barbara and her staff and everybody. >> Absolutely. >> That's >> great job. Great job. >> Yeah. >> Anybody else have any questions? I just want to dubtail in your comments
050given the size of the you know organization what 90 million something dollars will come up 300 something dollar >> it's pretty impressive >> okay >> thank you thank you have a good night >> you too >> see you in a couple months >> they become a permanent fixture and come back by the time they daddy take a vacation and come back. >> Good night. >> Okay, we have I need a motion for minutes. >> Workshop meeting. Any discussion on the minutes? You weren't present on the vote. I'm trying to pre [Music] audience. >> No. >> Okay. Um, all those in favor? >> I. >> Any extension? I'm not. >> Okay. But that president's report, I don't have much tonight. I I actually just wanted to mention I don't know if anybody happened to see it.
051I know it was on Facebook, but um our Highlander Pipers were at the Newton Theater with uh the Red Hot Chili Pipers and it was fantastic what was on there. I if you get a chance, you can maybe go on and see the art go to West Mil for Arts and it's there the uh video. It was our It was great. It was just a great thing. We really have a remarkable group there. So I I'm If you get a chance, if you get to go to the Tattoos or anything else, it's really something to see because our our band is remarkable. >> Is also on YouTube. >> Oh, was it on YouTube, too? Okay. Other than that, that's all I had under my report. Um, time for public comment. This portion of the meeting
052is open to the members of the public for the purpose of addressing resolutions on this agenda. Members of the public who have requested to speak prior to the meeting will be recognized by the chair first. Each speaker will be given five minutes for a period of 30 minutes and then time permitting other public comment limited to five minutes per speaker will be allowed until the 30 minute time period transpires. All members of the public speaking during this public comment are a period are asked to address topics listed in the agenda. All speakers are asked to sign the register provided to and to give their full name, spell their last name, group affiliation, >> excuse me. >> Thank you. >> Provide uh their address. Issues raised by members of the public may or may not be
053responded to by the board. All comments will be considered and a response will be forthcoming if and when appropriate. The board asks that members of the public be courteous and respectful of the rights of other individuals when speaking. Specifically, comments regarding students and employees of the board are discouraged. The board and the administration will not respond to them. Students and employees have specific legal rights reported 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 should consider their comments in light of the legal rights of those affected and 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? >> Seeing none move to close
054public comments. >> All those in favor? >> I. Any opposed? We need a mo we have a hand carry for the motions for um personnel >> 24 and 25. Everybody has to be present. So we need a a motion uh for the agenda with the hand carry. I'll make a motion to accept the agenda with the hand carry for personnel. So those in favor. >> Okay. Education. Mrs. Brier. Okay. Move to approve um agenda items one through four and five will be voted on after executive session. >> Second [Music] like to say one more time having um the tuition at the Highlander Academy. That's that one right? Yes. Awesome job. >> We have to give it to the staff there, so I'll just pass it back over to them. >> Good. Thank you. >> Um,
055Mrs. Francesca, >> Mrs. Dwire, >> yes. >> Mr. Greeno, >> yes. >> Mrs. Stevenson, >> yes. >> Mr. Stillman, >> yes. >> Mr. Oinsky, >> yes. >> Mrs. Romeo, >> yes. >> Mr. Conklin, >> yes. >> Mrs. Fritz, >> yes. >> Mrs. Van Dyke, >> yes. And now personnel, >> we don't have to vote separately. We can do them all together, right? Okay. >> Okay. Um I move uh like to move items 1 through 23 and hand carry items 24 and 25 under personnel. Second. >> Any discussion on the items on the agenda? Not Mrs. Francisco. >> Mrs. Fritz. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Stevenson. >> Yes. >> Mr. Greeno. >> Yes. >> Mustinsky. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Romeo. >> Yes. >> Mr. Conlin. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Dwire. >> Yes. >> Mr. Stillman. >> Yes.
056>> Mrs. Van Dyke. >> Uh, I abstain on number six. And yes to the rest. Operation uh and finance. Mr. Oh jeez. [Music] >> Discussion if not local. >> Mr. Green. >> Yes. >> Mr. Mrs. Stevenson. >> Yes. >> Mr. Oinsky. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Fritz. >> Yes. >> Mr. Stillman. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Dwer. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Romeo. >> Yes. >> Mr. Cons. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Bandai. >> Yes. >> Like to move item number three under option finance. >> Second. >> Discussion. >> If not, Mr. Mr. Greeno, >> yes. >> Mr. Stillman, >> yes. >> Mrs. Stevenson, >> yes. >> Mrs. Fritz, >> yes. >> Mr. Oshinski, >> Mrs. Romeo, >> yes. >> Mrs. Swer, >> yes. >> Mr. Conlin, >> yes. >> Mrs. Van Dyke. Yes. >> Like to move item
057number four under office finance. >> Any discussion? >> Mr. Francisco. >> Mr. Rino. >> Yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Stevenson. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Fritz. >> Yes. >> Mr. Stillman. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Dwire. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Romeo. >> Yes. >> Mr. Conklin. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Van Dyke. >> Yes. like to move item number five under operations and finance. Second session, Mrs. Francesca, >> Mr. Gino, >> Mrs. Stevenson, >> yes, >> Mr. Oinski, >> Mrs. Dwire, yes. >> Mr. Stillman, >> yes. >> Mrs. Britz, >> yes, >> Mr. Conklin. >> Yes, >> Mrs. Romeo >> abstain. >> Mrs. Van Djk >> abstain. >> Okay. >> Move item number six under finance. Second >> discussion. Mrs. Francisco Mr. Gino. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Fritz. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Stevenson. >> Yes. >>
058Mr. Oshinsky. >> Yes. >> Mr. Silman. >> Yes. >> Mr. Conlin. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Romeo. Yes, >> Mrs. Dwer. >> Yes, Mrs. Van Dyke. >> Yes. >> Move item number seven under finance. >> Discussion. Ma. >> Mr. Greeno. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Stevenson. >> Yes. >> Mr. Conklin? >> Yes. >> Mr. Oshinsky? >> Yes. >> Mr. Silman? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Fritz? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Romeo? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Dwire? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Van Dyke? >> Yes. like to move item number eight under operations of finance. >> Second >> discussion. >> Mrs. Francisco. >> Mr. Gino. >> Yes. >> Mr. Oshinski? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Stevenson? >> Yes. >> Mr. Stillman. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Fritz. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Dwire. >> Yes. >> Mr. Conlin. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Romeo. >>
059Yes. >> Mrs. Van. >> Yes. Item number nine. Mr. Greeno, >> yes. >> Mrs. Stevenson, >> yes. >> Mr. Stillman, >> yes. >> Mrs. Fritz, >> yes. >> Mr. Oinsky, >> yes. >> Mrs. Dwire, >> yes. >> Mrs. Romeo, >> yes. >> Mr. Conlin, >> yes. >> Mrs. Van, >> yes. >> Mrs. Romeo, >> I'd like to move number one under policy. >> Second. discussion. If not, >> Mrs. Romeo, >> yes. >> Mrs. Dwire, >> yes. >> Mrs. Stevenson, >> yes. >> Mr. Fino, >> yes. >> Mr. Oinsky, yes. Mrs. Fritz, >> yes. >> Mr. Conklin, >> yes. >> Mr. Stillman, >> yes. >> Mrs. Vanbeck, >> yes. >> Committee reports. Um, parks and recck. Anything? >> No report. >> No. Do you have one coming up or >> we don't know yet? >> Uh
060the safety there'll be a meeting this Friday um at the library and superintendent round table. >> Uh I'll do it. I don't think Terry was at that one from December. Right. >> Okay. >> Right. Um couple items. Um we addressed one or two tonight, but um a couple things about the snow rouge. just some um clarification um question to better communication to parents around what the snow roots are. There seems to be a little bit of confusion around that. Um there was something discussion around the timing of the link fingertip reports which Mr. Novak addressed this evening. Um we talked a little bit about security in regards to um how consistent and uniform the practices are throughout the district. Um understanding that buildings are different. We we discussed that a little bit, but obviously try
061to make as consistent as possible. Um there was a follow-up conversation from Dr. Mcuade around snacks and food in the classroom. Um snack lists with approved items are out there and that we continue to avoid food and sweet items in the classroom. um conversation around the district website. That's part of our branding efforts that we'll be looking at this year. So hopefully there'll be some changes coming around that. And um we didn't talk about the sixth grade because the decision had been had been made at that point. The next meeting is this Thursday. >> Just to follow up, we are looking at the uh bus forums for next year to update what uh Miss Fritz was saying is uh on the bus report now. It has your regular route. Then underneath it, it has your
062snow route, but if you don't have a snow route, it doesn't say anything. So, next year, we're going to include a snow route for everybody. Even if it's your regular stop, it'll just be in their two spots. So, there's no confusion and everybody will have a snow route, whether it's a snow route or not. It'll be on your bus pass for August. >> State school boards hasn't met their meeting February the 13th. The 13th. Yeah, I think it's a Thursday. It's not a Monday. If anybody's interested in going, um, you should have gotten an email, but you're welcome to go. Thursday, you know, I also, you know, okay. >> Um, but if anybody else is interested, you know, it's it's going to be at the bar. >> When when is it? >> February 13th. It's
063a Thursday, I think. It's a nice good food there to >> where the border and Wayne >> good place. >> Uh New Jersey school boards. Um, we had this we had uh Kathy Holloway here for the ethics presentation legislative. >> No, I can't do it that way. >> Um, actually legislative session that was closed in January, there's like 150 different uh bills and everything passed through the governor's desk. Some signed unsigned uh two unsigned uh relating to us. What was the depression screenings 2835 and 8 39 26? Uh for some reason the governor did not sign that for um having depression screens uh students grades 7 through 12. Uh the other one not signed by the governor was S40 to 89. That would have lifted the 2% cap. um kind of mixed feelings on that,
064you know, in some districts made good some feelings it's just opening up the floodgates. Um so but was not signed so the tax still remains uh bills that were signed A4147/S2744 um by school districts and nonpublic schools conduct audit of security features and buildings and grounds communication system submit to the New Jersey office of security homeland security and preparedness and department of education that that's increasing a little bit Uh A4150s uh requires meeting between student and appropriate school personnel after multiple suspensions or proposed expulsion from uh public schools to identify behavior or health difficulties. uh A4151S2745 uh requires school security training for persons employed by public and non-public schools in a substitute capacity or for employees and volunteers of use programs operated in school buildings. Um S4141A/ A6B11 seizure actions plan entitled calls law authorize
065parent guardian to request use of an individualized health care plan for a student with epilepsy or seizure disorders. Uh S2443 A4754 heat and humidity policy. Uh schools have to have a policy for um practice during period of high heat and humidity. Emergency action plan that's 249 2047.3. Um schools must have a policy emergency action plan responding to a serious potentially life-threatening sports related injury. And then Steve 4710 S 3258 strengthening gifted and talented education. Um outlining school district responsibilities and educating gifted and talented students. Um last two will take actually last three are for the 2021. >> Okay. Thank you. Technology. Uh so we didn't have a meeting but I think that in February we're going to get together. I do know that uh one good thing from a technology perspective is um Hunter Budge
066from Barbara and Robert Easter data gum installed uh some equipment in Marshall Hill Maple Road and Absua and um I think four bars for the most part that's working well and the idea was to give self service in some of those areas we didn't have cell service so now um we can use um the system that we put in place for security uh more properly in case it's ever needed. So hopefully it's never needed but none of the teachers can use it. >> Township and board of ed joint committee >> haven't had a meeting Monday >> Monday. [Music] >> So it's no longer called CASA. It's now called the West Milford Municipal Alliance. >> Oh, it was only West Milford Alliance. West Milford West >> and then it >> it's the West Milford Municipal Alliance.
067>> I have to say I'm so >> I'm really grateful that I was on this committee. I like felt like such hometown pride being in that meeting. I feel like they're Kathy McCur is just awesome and they were doing they're doing so many great programs for our town and for our youth. One of them um as many of you probably know the real program for fifth and sixth grade. It will be changed to lead next year. Um they're also doing some great programs um for some of the older kids. One is called dirt which sounded awesome for the high school students. Um, maybe you talk more about that. >> Sure. Is an assembly. Um, and I'm hoping to hear the student representative talk about it after it happens. Um, but it's a great assembly. >>
068Um, that'll be our >> It's not dirt. D I R T >> Dirt. the name of it's a oneman presentation uh >> around substance awareness and things like that or >> No, it's around a little bit of everything of uh he's an actor. >> It's going to be at the high school. >> Uhhuh. For >> during the school day >> or high school students during the day. Yes. An assembly. >> When is it supposed to be? >> April 3rd. >> He's an actor and he takes the seat and and acts out different high school students and so he hits numerous different ways of >> um you know, it would >> issues that they would face. >> It would be hard. >> Sounds really good. >> Amazing. Like I would think if I were in a
069Google >> Sounds really great. >> It's for the whole school. All grades. >> Mhm. High school. I think high school. >> All Yeah. 9 through 12. Yeah. >> Um >> they also um talked about other programs that they have coming up. They'd like to do a recognition dinner for some of the committee members and students. Um, they talked about some things that they want to do like coming up, but like they're just in the work, so I don't want to say anything too much about them, but just like really I was so impressed with this woman and how many how packed that room was with everybody from, you know, everywhere, you know, it was like a police officer and people from the township and, you know, people from the women from the family, I forget
070like such great great people together and such great programs for our town and for our youth. >> Two things that happened um also were the pharmacist at Shopright um is um also um lives in West Milford. His name is I believe you say his last name Hi, Chris High and he gave a presentation um he's doing something at the pharmacy at Shopre called 20 for 20. So, it's 20 minutes for $20 um for anyone uh that needs to or wants to quit smoking or for families who have someone that they want to help quit smoking, they can go and meet with him and he gave out a flyer. Um but it was really great and just great program. And the last thing for Casa uh is February 10th at 7 p.m. everyone's invited. They're having
071um a presentation uh to be determined where yet. Um but Rucker's graduate students are doing a presentation on opioid addiction. Um and so it'll you know they're creating a flyer and inviting everyone in the community, parents, students, educators. >> They also talked about um doing a vaping program at Highlander Academy called Don't Get Vaped In. >> Okay. That's it. Sounds like it was a very productive meeting for old business. >> All those in favor? Hi. >> Budget discussion. >> Anyone have anything budget book or anybody can join in. >> Um I could just say um everybody received the budget book. um even those of you that um don't necessar are are more technology uh inclined to use your technology. Um that basically it was a rough draft of all the expenditures that were asked for
072uh by the um the administrative staff. Um and by it's by no means what the administration is requesting. there's um going to be changes as I continue to go through the budget. I see things that have to be tweaked. Um so um feel free to ask any questions and um I want you to be fully comfortable with some of the things that you know the things that you see in there. I don't want you to think that you know you your voice doesn't need to be heard. Um, as far as the revenues go, that's still in the process of being formulated. Um, as you can see, we lost, um, over a million dollars in excess fund balance that is used to support this year's budget. And we're expecting a state aid reduction of $1.5 million.
073So, if we rolled all of our expenses from last year into this year, we'd be $2.5 million in less in revenue that we have to support that. And 2% um on our tax levy is $1.1 million roughly. So, there's a lot of work that needs to be done. Um we have um a meeting in March. The first meeting in March is dedicated to a presentation on the budget and we have to approve the tenative budget that needs to be sent down to the county at that point in time. Um then you have six weeks from that point in time to continue to review and tweak. So, in the past couple of years, what we've done is we've allowed the budget to go down to the county office with larger than a 2% uh increase in
074the tax levy and we've been able to tweak it because um we know more numbers of the biggest unknown I think that we have right now is where our health benefits are going to come in because of uh some of the changes and because of our claims experience. Uh we've been lucky the last couple of years. I budgeted eight percent or last year I budgeted 5 percent and came in just a touch under five percent. So we do have a little bit of of of cushion in the current year's budget in our in our health benefits. But that's a big expenditure so that um we have to make sure that we we don't go into a deficit because um we've been we've been fortunate to have a healthy fund balance at the end of the
075school year. excess fund balance, but as the state aid continues to get cut, that number is going to continue that's going to shrink, too. So, um, we have a lot of questions among ourselves as we look through this thing because until you see the whole thing pulled together, um, and you start to go through the next three months and question some of the things that were asked for, some of the things that are in there. Um, but we also um want you to feel comfortable asking us any questions and also if you want to come into the office and go over it with Dr. Anamone or myself um we're always accessible to those to that. >> Can I just I'm sorry. Can I just say I've never done anything like this and it's impressive. I
076was so impressed. I feel like we're in such good hands with Barbara and just like kudos to her for everything that she's done to put this together for us. Um I just wanted to say that because I was really impressed by it. >> Thank you. >> Um I just have a question about the PCTI tuition. Yeah. >> What is the tuition per student at PCTI? >> Um I believe it's $11,000 and change. >> Okay. >> And let me tell you where we are with that cuz I fight with them every year. the number of students doesn't >> I know the tuition is $11,962 for a general education population. >> Sorry, what was that? >> It's it's right in there. It's $11,962. >> So, and basically PCTI um sends us a report telling us how many
077people they want us to budget for. and I fight with them every year because they put a higher number than what I feel is justified. >> So, um, so when we pay that extra money for those extra students who may not attend, we get that money back. >> We get it back two years later, >> which is why I fight with them because I don't feel that we should not for money. I could understand that there might be, >> you know, a difference of a few kids, but in in this this particular year, they're trying to bill us for seven more students. And >> can we not? >> No, they can't. >> So, I know that the students have to put in I think it was before like October, November time frame. When did when
078does that get confirmed that they're in? >> Not until spring. >> Not until the spring. >> Too late for us. accepted say they're going in April and then don't go and then they have a change of heart in August. So there's always a you know TCTI might look at our number of applicants and say they're all going to TCTI and we know you're graduating this many. We're saying historically we've always had students >> get and decide not to go. >> So we think our number is more accurate than their number. Last year, last year I put in for 80 >> and they argued with me because they wanted 85. >> So we have to pay $6,000 a year. >> So rather than go we get the county in the middle of it, we decided we
079would compromise and we did 82 and we had 77 go. >> So we're five we're five students over, >> right? So we'll get a credit in two years. >> Next two years. >> Oh my gosh. >> Why? Why two years? Why two years? Because that's the law. >> Ridiculous. That's >> if you have a tuition adjustment for any um school district, you have two years to settle that account. >> So, in reading what you what you put in here, are we going to appeal to the county that on those I I mean on that alone, we should >> we put in 85. They feel that they should have 92. >> Um and our enrollment's down. I know that I know that um the business administrator of PCTI has already spoken to the county BA and
080I said go right ahead. He said he's going to crunch the numbers. I I think that there it's going to be okay like this. >> Okay. >> And and we have the tuition adjustment that's going to go in there. So that that total amount will be reduced because we do have an a tuition adjustment that that's applicable. I think I think what has happened in the past as we're getting started in the budget process if there's things that you have I you know ideas that you have about maybe something that would be a cut or you know way of saving money if you call Barbara or if you want to meet with her that's great she her and Dr. animal and their doors are open especially on the budget or phone call and you can
081give a phone call and you know I think that's kind of how we addressed it until we get to that point where we start our budget meetings and then you usually give us kind of a breakdown >> other than the book saying where we are with some things and what we're looking at and what might be on the table >> you know and how we have to look at it and where the impact is as far as the the tax the PCI PCTI enrollment it's only it's a monthly basis so if somebody would transfer back in October we would only pay for September we wouldn't pay for October through June we pay every month >> have to pay you have to pay >> we have to pay for the whole year >> we get a
082credit for a portion of that year >> but not for two years >> so if we're committed if we're committed for 80 students then we have to pay for those 80 students their budget >> any credit comes just for the money they owe us. >> And that 11,000 is per year, right? >> And five years ago, two years ago, >> two years ago, we had half the amount of students going there. But >> because they built a new building, there they've increased their the number of students that they accept. >> So that's where the disparity is. >> I mean, yeah. And it's in no way a negative to PCTI. It's just that to take our our dollars ahead, you know, we don't we don't have that luxury. So, >> and we also pay taxes that
083go to PC. >> The unfortunate the unfortunate part of this is not at the county level, it's at the state level because the state representatives have never allowed us to count the number of students that go down to PCTI in our enrollment count >> and they should be enrolled. But we're not getting any credit for the students that are going and the taxpayers are paying the tuition that for those students. So could you imagine we have like 80 kids that are off of our I mean we would have 80 more on our enrollment because we have to pay that send to tuition but we're not getting credit for them from the state. So the state's going to take even more state funding from us because our enrollment is down which is not true. Um, >>
084that's only that's political. >> Well, it's been that meant to be, but it's been that way for probably. >> Yeah. Um, yeah, I've gone through the budget a bit over the weekend. And um, basically, it looks good. There's no outside of, let's say, salaries and and benefits, there's no big increases, right? In fact, I think there's decreases. And again, with salaries and benefits, you want quality staff. you have to pay them well and provide them good benefits. So, you know, it's kind of almost like a fixed cost as I see it. Um, regarding estate aid, is there any thoughts, plans on kind of I know you can't fight it for, but appealing and so forth uh fighting it and any >> there are some lawsuits I believe in central right is involved >> township regional
085perhaps. Okay. So there's a lot of there's a lot going on with that. I don't know how successful it will be, but it is forcing the issue into the public light, but we still don't have the formula. We know the number we get. We don't know the formula that how we get there. >> That's actually what they're request. >> Yeah. PCTI got an increase in their state aid. Yeah, building buildingational schools got an increase in state funding simply because now um many years ago they they eliminated a lot of the comprehensive high schools. We're fortunate that we've been able to maintain our comprehensive high school, >> but they they've reduced the number of offerings with comprehensive high schools because they went through technology and and things like that. And now um they're finding that there's
086a value um in in that type of of the type of programs because not everyone is academic and wants to go to college. And so now they're squeezing high schools that can't put those comprehensive high school programs back in. So, it's it's always a double-edged sword because the legislature the legislature talks down at everybody instead of listening to what's going on. And and one of the other problems because when I was on board, we were faced with this is that you can't find certified teachers to teach some of the programs anymore because they stop training those teachers at the college level. So, it becomes even more pro problematic for us at um the local level. I mean, culinary is one of the biggest ones. They they don't offer it. So, if you're not going to
087a vote where they have a leeway where they can bring somebody in that is a chef and teach the course where we we don't get that leeway. What we have to do is we have to have a teacher that also certified. But we have an awesome culinary program. Well, we do because we we are fortunate here because we kept our programs going where a lot of districts kind of when kids started pulling away from it, that was an area that they cut because their kids were going to vote for that and they felt that it was like a double, you know, like we were doing double. Here in West Mford, we tried to keep the comprehensive high school because we knew where we were, you know, what we were drawing from. We're very fortunate in
088the staff that we have in that particular department. We have a very unique >> ready a couple things I was going to say. I know in the last couple years we've had students from the culinary program go and win >> awards scholarship. >> And the woodworking program is I I mean the work that these kids do. I mean, you want a piece of furniture made by these kids, you know, and they don't have to get on a bus at 5:30, quarter to 6:00 in the morning to go down to Wayne. So, it's um >> there's even a isn't there a mechan mechanics, you know, child care, >> you know, and if I could just mention, you know, we have a new chief mechanic in in um our transportation uh department and he's a West Milford
089person. And what he has asked Mr. Shrians to do is to identify a student that's in the automotive uh program and see if they would want to volunteer in the bus garage so they can learn to or be part >> seeing how a shop actually runs and and what goes on. So we're looking into starting >> right. >> So couple things. one uh I saw um that you're adjusting and increasing for healthcare insurance. Do you feel that's enough? >> And do you chew up like a couple times during the course of the year? I've just seen some of the health care expenses >> wellreased pretty sizably in certain organizations. So >> we're we're with the health insurance. >> We're fortunate that we're standing policy. We're not part of the state. Um in the past few
090years the state has um come in higher. So um there's been actually a healthcare adjustment at the budget that's not applicable this year because the state rates for whatever reason. Um, I think that they've made some changes in their deductibles and whatever, but um, we we don't have a a health benefit um, uh, adjustment this year in our budget program, but um, I think that 8% which is current, I'm I'm hoping it doesn't come in that much. >> Yeah. >> But, you know, you have issues going on in the federal affordable care act that I put in the memo. So when I got in touch with our when I uh reached out to the risk manager last month, he said to me, Bobby goes, I can't even give you a ballpark right now. So I'm
091hoping in February because normally we start talking in December, January, and he gives me an estimate to put in and then we he'll go back every month that we have claims experience. He has something to say, well, this is improving, so you know, whittle it down. And he'll for us. But this year, uh hopefully when I when we start discussions in February that we'll have a >> Okay. And then the uh the second piece again, I know this is our first go around, right? Um I noticed that so we have elementary schools now that are K through five instead of K through six. And I noticed some of those budgets have gone down just but I also saw Macin who's getting a grade and I saw how they've even managed to figure out how to
092decrease a little bit of their budget. So yeah, I feel like the elementary school principal did a great job the first goound. I think then maybe there's just some more opportunity there. >> I'm going I'm going through world supply request. This is the largest budget. It will get smaller from here. How much smaller is something we have to work out? We know what the tax level will be and then out numbers come in. >> It'll give us a little bit more perspective. State should be here late February. >> Probably President's weekend that week is maybe Thursday after President's Day I think. >> Fingers crossed. >> Didn't we get like right after our meeting last February or something? the following I think it's the last week which would be it was after our meeting >> it
093was after our February >> it was after our meeting last year >> so um again like I just look at Macin and I see how they managed to get that down you know and I think that maybe there's some opportunities um and then of course I know great technology is going to play a big role in 2020 and there's some things we want to do there which >> there's some cost but there also could be some savings in other areas >> in the budget Yeah, >> has been put off for very long. Started out there last year, right? >> We just recently had a problem in actual school that probably took about what three or four days to solve. >> Yeah. The equipment so it's hard to replace anymore. So, there are some initiatives that
094we're looking to do and the question is going to be whether or not we're going to be able to keep them there or not or whether we're going to have to um keep that hand down the road one more time. Um, can I just mention one other thing that stood out to me too? Um, I like you very much, [Music] >> but the lawyer fees are a lot. Well, interestingly enough, >> it's not >> I like you very much. >> Thank you very much. But rememberation going on now. >> I know. I know. I know. >> And one thing that we've we've had some environmental attorney costs over the last few years that I don't believe we're going to need now. Um, I I planned on reducing that number a little bit because we still
095have things that are going to need to be reviewed, but probably not to the same extent that we needed them last year and the year before when we were in the middle of a major and we did come down in in legal fees from the year before. It seemed that those were a deduction I think in reduction in audit cost for some extent. Um or under audit and legal it seem to have gone down a little bit. >> Mhm. >> Yeah. How much like 32,000 food service that's >> any other discussion? The one more thing that's an administrative cost would you decide to keep at the same level that >> yeah that's I I mean I'm just asking I don't know I like him very much >> well the good thing is we're going to
096have to make him cookies now just saying >> we don't have any negotiations a large part of this year once and then now one year too that or is that separate like any litigation or any of that stuff is that separate? >> Yeah, there's separate lines. >> Well, agreed with, >> you know, if we are looking at legal fees, board meetings, if that's what we're paying, you know, maybe workshop meetings, we can look to not have legal advice at workshop meetings or something. That's something you talk about. No, I mean other districts don't have as many of them. >> We we tend to not we tend to usually have one meeting a month. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> So, three this month, I guess. >> January, February, and March are our budget time where things
097are, you know, we we need those extra meetings. Some of those meetings are specifically for the budget. Um I I guess that's a discussion that can be had. I myself prefer to have our attorney present. That's my because you never we can never plan for what's going to happen at the meeting. >> Uh I do know districts who don't have an attorney present and I do know how they go some of their meetings >> be expensive in the long run without the attorney >> wind up being another issue. We've had many times where things come up that weren't you wouldn't anticipate that to be able to or whoever has sat there able to help answer and clarify. >> It depends on the community. Any other budget conversations? If not, anybody have anything else under new
098business? >> If not, I move to close new business. >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> I uh for the second public comment, I'm not going to read the same statement again. Um the the main part of the statement is that you can speak on anything, not just the agenda items. If anybody's wishing to speak, please read what it says on the agenda. I mind reading it one way that you could >> That's awesome. >> So, anybody would like to speak under public comment tonight? >> Seeing none, I move to close public comment. >> A second. >> All those in favor? >> I um we need we need a motion for executive discussion. Okay. 8:31. Um, I make a motion go into executive session for the purpose of discussing personnel appointments, resignations, current litigation
099matters, special education matters, negotiation, tips, and matters of attorney, client second. >> 30 minutes and action will be taken after that. the second one page. >> The executive session will not be released until such time as the privilege of or confidentiality is no longer applicable. >> Second. >> Any discussion? >> No. >> All those in favor? We will be returning. [Music] Mrs. Romeo, >> yes. Here >> Mr. H. >> Here >> Mr. >> Yes. Here >> Mr. >> Here. [Music] Did he say yes? >> Did he? [Applause] >> Sorry. >> Okay. Um I move to accept the recommendation of the superintendent to approve the following tips. 2020 E7 as substantiated. 2020 E8 as substantiated. Can I second? >> Second. Any discussion? If not, this one. >> Mrs. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Stevenson. >> Yes. >>
100Mr. Garino. >> Yes. >> Mr. Oinski. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Ritz. >> Yes. >> Mr. Conley. >> Yes. >> M. Romeo. >> Yes. >> Mr. Stone. >> Yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. Need a motion to >> 856. I can make a motion to adjurnn. >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> I. >> Good night. Have a good night. >> Good night. We're not going to see each other