Board of Education Meeting 12/18/19

001for our holiday. How much are the tickets? >> We should really start the meeting and do this later. [Music] >> I think it's not. No, no, no. I'm going with these now. [Music] It seems like this is kind of a way. >> They should know where I am. >> They should know who I am. >> That hurt just a little bit. But the way the way my week has gone doesn't matter very much. >> You can see how I deal with Madam President, right? >> You we have to sit down because we got two minutes. We have the store. >> Where's mom? >> Right there. >> That was good. Got good thing my nose was over. >> Yeah, I I just said it to Alex. It's pretty big. I should be able to. >> Yeah,

002I'm not going anywhere. I know. I'll see you later. Okay. They know >> when I hit the school. >> Yeah. I think really get so I'll just I came home the streets were melting but I guess more came down when I wasn't there pretty messy [Music] Yes, I said [Applause] I I'd like to call the meeting to order. And if you could take a moment uh of s uh take a moment of silence, please [Music] rise for the flag salute. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. 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

003schools, the Herald News, the trends, the record, the messenger, West Milford town hall, the county superintendent's office, the board attorney, and cable vision of Warwick and posted in the administration building. Copies of the board meeting calendar resolutions were provided to all local media, town hall, township, library, and all district schools. Roll call. Mrs. Francisco, >> Mrs. Romeo >> here. >> Mr. Sidowitz >> here. >> Mr. Drew, >> Mrs. Dwire >> here. >> Mr. Gino >> here. >> Mrs. Fritz >> here. >> Mr. Oshinsky >> here. >> Miss O'Brien >> here. >> Mrs. Van Dyk >> here. >> Dr. Animo. >> All right. Good good evening everybody. Um we're going to get right to the reason you're all here uh for Brian Rena student representative report the board of education for the month of December. Uh

004good evening everyone. The district is busy under activities throughout the end of November December. On November 25th, Maxine students were able to gain insights into different behaviors that exist throughout Texas day where speakers were able to talk to students about their about high school students were able to partake in interviews with college and also being school. Many seniors opportunity to talk oneonone with that college. many students acceptances. Thank you to the high school guys and others who were able to plan and organize the event for the students. On December 5th, Westbrook Elementary students were able to see what it was like to become an entrepreneur and create their own products to sell in their trucks marketplace event that Marshall students also got to see what the experience is like on December 13th. All this week,

005high school students were asked to dress in certain colors for the winter school week. For example, on Monday, students were asked to dress in flannel and plaid patterns. On Wednesday, students wore holiday hats and donated new toys to those in need during the day of giving. On Thursday, students uh will be asked to wear ugly holiday sweaters and on Friday to wear red, green, blue, and wings. On December 6th, students who participate in Special Olympics uh were able to compete in the basketball event. Our Islanders will be competing in winter sports very soon, and I'm sure that that they will be able to bring success. On December 5th, the high school choirs performed for their families and friends in the winter choir concert. On December 12th, Mac choir students did the same thing uh during

006the Mic Choir concert. Uh tonight, Magna band students are performing for family and friends during the winter band concert. And following them on December 19th, high school band students will do the same during their winter band concert. Throughout the week of December the 9th, the high school interact club collected non-p perishable food items for each home ranch to donate to local food. In addition, Mexican school students helped Miss Sally draw pictures and write letters to Santa for Macy's campaign where students helped raise over $2,400 to to the Make a Witch Foundation. Tonight, the high school club is hosting an 80s themed bingo night in order to raise money for the Good Foundation. through these simple acts by supported students were able to who were able to support their community and part uh participate in giving

007back to others in need. On December 20th, the district will be having an early dismissal following winter break which starts December 21st, January 1st. Are there any questions? >> No. >> Thank you. And I hope everyone has a great fun and safe winter. >> Thank you. Thank you very much. >> Thank you, Brian. and congratulations on your two most recent college acceptances, Ponipiac and University of Farford. >> Yes. Thank you, >> Brian. Is two for two so far with I think seven more to go. >> Two for two for colleges, but we have seven more to go. >> Seven more. Good job. >> Big choices. >> Um, next up we had a few weeks ago we had our onsite decision. I think this is the I don't know how long how many years we've been

008doing this, but our on-site decision day was right after Thanksgiving. We had 194 total acceptances given that day. This is when universities come to the high school library. Our students show up with their transcript and they are accepted on the spot. We had 194 acceptances with 33 more on the wait list. We had approximately half a million dollars in scholarships offered that day to our students. We saved about $4,000 of application fees, which if you have a high school senior, you know how those application fees sort of add up after a while. So, the application fees were waved. Um, so our students and our family saved a lot of money. If you have a high schooler, keep this on your radar for the future because it's a wonderful day that our guidance department put together.

009And thank you. Obviously, Mr. Stry is here as well. Um, also hot off the press, pun intended. We just got this yesterday. The American Scholastic Press Association awarded first place to the Highland Review 2019 magazine. That is our high school literary magazine and it's entitled Black and Gold. So, congratulations to our faculty advisor, Miss Petraillo, Miss West, our English language arts supervisor, and all of our students who participated. So, this is a national award, and we were first place. So, congratulations again. All right. And next up, we have our long-awaited MAC gray configuration report. If the board members would like to see in the front row so they can get a better view of the screen, get comfortable, right? [Music] Good evening everybody and welcome to our September meeting. We've been talking about this for

010a while and now we have our final report. So just a brief history of maximum rate configuration. This is something that's been discussed for about 30 years, a little over 30 years. Uh there's been a bunch of different advisory committees and redistricing reports and so on and so forth over the last 30 something years. Um this is the most recent. Um to give you a timeline, we discussed an important meeting that we take time to look into the possibility of moving the sixth grade school for September of 2020. In July last summer, we uh crafted six subcommittees. We opened that up to the entire community. We had board members, admins, teachers, parents, community members, uh people who volunteer to be part of one or more committees. Anybody who be part of the committee was placed

011in a committee. So nobody was turned away. Uh we started this each subcommittee had a chairperson. uh we met with them starting in August and then from September to December these subcommittees met they discussed six different areas that we thought were critical to the success of uh this potential one was academics scheduling and so on and so forth transportation finance facilities and now we have a recommendation to the board of ed so the purpose of the committee is to determine if the sixth grade can move to Yes, they can be. They can fit it back to the school. Should they be back in? Yes. Is it in the best interest of our children? I think yes. So, the committees looked into these issues plus others that came up during during the course of our discussions.

012Some are very simple. school curriculum, academics, transportation, facilities, locker uses, things like that. Others are a little bit more complicated. Social emotional learning is different really quantified with the number, but it's something we did we do feel is very important. So, we look at our enrollment. Now, this is this year's enrollment. These are the students that would be that could currently be at Magnum School next year. And we'll see this continues a pretty long decline in enrollment over the past. Those of you who went to school here probably graduated with 300 400 students. At our max we probably had 400 per grade and we're about half of that now some of these lower grades. So um there was a point in time when last we had two grades with 4 800 students 400 in each

013grade. So there was this talk years ago about hey sixth grade but you couldn't fit 1,200 students in there was what you have to do to move the sixth grade. So to move the sixth grade in 1990 or whatever year you have to put a condition onto the building which is not very cost efficient. You had space in elementary you didn't have it would not have made much financial sense to put an addition on a building and then try to make your space. Now our class sizes, our grade sizes are very low. We can add a grade to back and still be less than what we used to. So we went back here about 20-year trend. This is actual enrollment here and this is the projected move forward and to get these numbers. We just

014looked at our lower grades and added them. See what they get the back of this. So as you can see it's a 815ish around there. It could bottom out with all four. That's it if we contain a keep 78 configuration. Whereas if you move 6 to8 in there, you'll see a one year jump which will be next September. You'll be in a 750 range or more than that 760. And then you'll start to see a pretty steep decline anyway as the rates get lower. We have about 178 179 kindergartens now. We don't know what we're going to have next year, but it could continue that trend. We don't know that until early this spring. All right. So, Mr. Mr. So, um, one of the things that we implemented this year is we're able to cluster

015both our seventh and our eighth graders. And essentially what that means is every group of students will have the same English, history, science, and social studies uh teachers program. So there are two clusters in each grade level. That plan would continue for the situators. Uh what that does is it takes our big building and it makes it into a smaller building. So four teachers will be responsible for a smaller group of kids. Uh students take their most of them take their core classes currently within their cluster. So our seventh graders are clustered into black gold. Nearly all the black cluster students have the same four core teachers and nearly all the gold cluster students have the same core teachers. Like I said earlier, this is the first time we're able to do that in seventh

016grade and eighth grade. So, um provides us with a lot of opportunities. Our teachers collaborate with each other on at least a monthly basis. Uh today we had three meetings with our red, white, and gold clusters, talk about student achievement, talk about student progress, students that we're concerned with, ways that we can help those those students. We also use this as a way to kind of plan uh what we're going to do each marking period so that we don't have four major tests on the same day with these students because they're all having the same teachers. Uh we try to coordinate project the same way and uh other major assignments in each cluster. It allows the teachers like I said to get together the same period every day. So they get to meet if they

017need to. we need to have a parent come in or we can get a parent on phone or we just need to meet as a group to talk about particular student those teachers are free at the exact same time our subject area specialists are our grade level teachers now so if your child has an English an English class that would be taught by one of our certified English teachers someone who specializes in that subject area not a generalist like uh we see in some other grades we would be able to increase the number of classes that we offer And I'm going to come back on talk about some of the elective choices that we're looking at for next year. But currently our middle school kids get visor every day. So there's there's a lot of

018lot of additional um opportunities for our students there. Of course, we have a pretty robust after school program, mini murals, clubs. We run about 30 35 clubs throughout the course of the school year after school for grades seven and eight. Now that would obviously be extended for grades six, seven, and eight. Those students stay after school with us, take the pre-30 bus home. So there's no need for parents to have to transport. Uh currently we're we're a title one school, which means we get some federal funding to do some some interesting stuff to help our kids. Mr. go back and I've been working pretty closely on a on a new project for this year and um our report card certainly looks a little different than what they are used to in elementary school. So the

019plan would be if sixth graders come by us their entire program would model what we do for our seventh and eighth graders their period order their scheduling their report cards and comments are drawn their teacher conferences they would just become an additional grade class. Uh, one of the things that we've focused on as as part of this is our mathematics placement. Sixth graders should they come to us would have two options. They would either be in pre-alggebra or they would be mass. Pre-algebra would be in honors or in brick section and should they continue to follow that pattern, they would take algebra as a seventh grader and geometry as an eighth grader and then eventually algebra 2 in ninth grade. allows them a longer track to get to some of the more advanced placement and

020honors level courses once they get to high school. Majority of our sixth graders will probably go math six, pre-alggebra and algebra as an eighth grader. And the other uh row math 6, math 7, math 8, and algebra as ninth grader. Our four classes, English, social studies, and science. There would be no honor sections. They would all be heterogeneously mixed by class. And that is one of the pieces that we didn't talk about with the east side. Uh currently all of our clusters are heterogeneously mixed. We don't have a cluster where we put all the honors classes. They are scattered throughout. So that black wall, red, white, doesn't matter what cluster you're in, you're still eligible for all the honors level and except all the other courses or all the other clusters are. >> Thank you,

021Mr. uh one of the one of the topics that comes up often in this discussion is about the status of our curriculum. It's come up in uh previous meetings and I think I can say confidently that our curriculum is probably um one of the people that is in it best shape for this for this transition. Uh we've done a great job over the years, our supervisory staff, our administrators, our staff implementing and staying on top of uh changes to the New Jersey student learning standards, previously known as a common core. As we have adjustments, we update our curriculum. We make sure that we are uh current with everything that's going on. We recently passed our uh QAC uh district review with flying colors. So we're we're in really good shape curriculum wise in terms of

022what we are teaching in each grade level. So currently our sixth grade is is um meeting the the uh QAC requirements and the great requirements. Um the shift to in the next few slides we talk about what that shift would look like by by content. Um Mr. Citro referred to cluster meetings. Um I'm using the term up here professional learning communities. That's a opportunity for our staff to work together and collaborate. Currently, we have our uh sixth grade teachers who are housed in the elementary schools unable to collaborate with their seventh and eighth grade peers. And the reason I call them seventh and eighth grade peers, and you're going to see a few slides here, that the New Jersey student learning standards are typically written in bands that cover grades 670. Um the curriculum materials

023that come with it are purchased in bundles often that are K5 and 678. So we have a very simple example in our um math curriculum. We offer K through 5. We have the famous go math and then in grade six we have um we have a different program that is the um series part one of a three-part series that goes with our seventh uh our seventh and eighth grade materials. So um that shift would be a seamless opportunity for our staff to collaborate with you know the same program um materials and resources everything we currently have in place this is not about purchase. There might be a few little odds and ends here and there, some u math manipulatives or uh some of the things teachers need in the classroom. But in terms of textbooks

024and the majority of the resources we need to move this grade to uh back is is already here already in place. Our review cycle accounts for the grade level, not the school. So our sixth graders are well prepared. Our sixth graders will be well prepared whether they're in sixth grade or or MAC next year. Uh, one of the other questions that that comes up time and time again, it's been a big question throughout our process is what will we have to do to make sure that we have certified staff and we're going to do this. What type what type of disruption, you know, the process. So, what we've what we've done is we've gone through every certificate that we have in the um district and we've u we've seen that we have 86 teachers in

025the district who are eligible to go uh to the back school and teach. what we got from uh the New Jersey office of of uh licensing uh persons who hold a K8 elementary certificate are not required to obtain a middle school certificate if they would be assigned to teach social studies, math, science or ELA in grade six. So we have the proper certifications in order for us uh to make that [Music] to talk more specifically content by content and English language arts we use the proper workshop model. Uh we've been implementing that for a number of years. We work with a consultant who comes in and works with our staff. Uh this year they're doing a coaching model where they go into the classroom and they work with our teachers while the students are in

026place and and really help us through the the things that they've been learning over the last few years. Um our sixth grade teachers are in year two of that uh year two of that process. So we um you know we take each grade as a cohort and we um there are different stages in the process. So our our sixth grade teachers are in the second year of that phase which is at the end of 2 years the majority of that heavy lifting is done and once you get out of the first two years it's more of a a maintenance cycle where they meet with consult um you know refresher tips and a little bit of class coaching and that sort of thing. Um the materials that we have in those classrooms as I mentioned we

027have we have what we what we need. We have our readers and writers workshop units. We have a number of online resources classroom level libraries. Uh those are a number of things that have been uh purchased by the district over time for every class to have the same sort of environment. Uh it's common to go into a classroom. Our teachers are fantastic with shelling out their own money and and you know filling their bookshelves with whatever they pick up at a used book sale or that sort of thing. So those things that belong to staff members will probably save the people who own them. and uh the materials that support our program are are don and will go with if they go uh if they go to mag. So that the uh one of the

028things that comes up is the classroom libraries that is um that is taken care of in our current uh current resources. Uh we're also looking at a new word study program formerly known as spelling or vocabulary. So we're doing that at the moment. our sixth grade teachers are involved in that process and we could potentially have a recommendation for a new program whether or not um sixth and seventh grade is at night. Uh I referred earlier about our math process. Um our sixth graders use course one. It's a course one, two, and three series that is designed for six uh sixth, seventh and eighth graders. Coming back to what I said about professional learning communities and Mr. referring to um clusters. If we can have our sixth grade teachers, for me personally, this is one

029of the the um most exciting parts of it is that we could have our sixth, seventh, and eighth grade teachers together and we could have a nice seamless discussion about what our students need in math going forward. And math has been a tremendous topic at board meetings for ever. Um, and I think last year we we had a significant rise in in the uh in the area of math in terms of our our scores and our student performance. And I think bringing that sixth grade with their peers who are using the same program and collaborate and talk um really enhance that. Also imagine that we have we have math specialists. I mean I can I can I won't do it now but I can name a you know the whole department who have been focusing

030just on that with the department supervisors with their administrators uh over the you know last number of years that have really helped sharpen their craft in the area of mathematics and I think that's a tone for all of our um content is the ability for the staff member to you know sharpen the saw in that particular area or content. Um, Alex is an online program that that has been, I believe, highly successful. I refer to my home life in terms of the things we send home for kids to use and that's one that I haven't seen tears with. Um, so I always that's a that's a good sign in my home and Alex is a has been an online masters tool that has really um supported the curriculum. it works with the um the material

031that they're using and we've seen great success with it that would go with our sixth graders into uh we talked a little bit about I think Mr. switch over very directly to that that last bullet about the the ability for us to really um differentiate at a at a better level being able to have our sixth graders in the school in terms of in terms of mathematics and the opportunities that they would have in social studies. So I think social studies and science in the elementary school K and I I see some teachers here they'll agree with me in the elementary schools K6 there is such a significant discussion about math and language arts that often um social studies and science become slight. That's not a um that's not a negative so to speak. I

032just think it's the environment that they uh that they these materials are are in. And I think our high school uh history teachers would tell you that if our students had a better understanding of the early world history concepts in sixth grade, there would be a um a better shift going forward for how they how they're able to to maintain those skills. Uh it's very different. I'll say, you know, we try to maintain the six schools to be as similar as as we can. Um but the area of social studies and science I think is one that is um often from the you know neighborhood school sort of perspective how it has evolved and and you know everyone kind of knows what I'm what I'm alluding to. Um transition to middle school is going to

033give you a dedicated time for social studies and the ability to hit the concepts and really um use this use the standards and implement the standards the way they're intended. Um there's also something that we brag about in our curriculum that we were given high regard for in our new review that's crosscurricular connections and the ability and I said at a previous meeting I believe our history teachers they are as much a writing teacher as they are a teacher of history and I think that only enhances that opportunity to um to use the content to write to non-fiction to have those deeper thinking skills we use something called uh DBQs document based questions If you're if you're a seventh or eighth grader, you see an awful lot of um involvement with referring to primary documents

034and writing opinions and and writing reactions to that. That is only going to enhance our sixth grade uh group. Our sixth grade teachers are doing a great job implementing it. This just gives this sixth grade a more uh dedicated focus. Science is one of another one. uh a dedicated science period every day is uh um something that isn't always afforded in the elementary in the elementary school. There's a lot of creative schedules. There's often a you know they'll do 3 days science, two days social studies or um that type of that type of switch to get the the amount of instruction they can get in. in the elementary schools at the middle school they would have a dedicated period each time again crosscurricular connections writing to um writing to non-fiction and and using their reading

035and language art skills that go along with the uh the science science standards would be beneficial. Um and we are now we're still waiting for I think they're coming out from the state our science assessment results from last year. The state hasn't released them yet, but the New Jersey uh the NJSLS for science is based on a 6 through 8 model. So, your students are assessed at the end of grade 5 and then they're assessed again at the end of grade 8. We don't currently have a easy process for those uh three grade levels to collaborate, make sure that we are um really addressing the skills that are necessary for a student at the at the end of grade 8. Again, we do I I believe we do a great job, but we could do

036better in in this environment. >> Okay. So, now on to the special education perspective. Um Makin for us, we've been a part of the committees and our committees that I get to be a part of Pierce Hall. Our supervisor special services joined the committee. We have to say that Mackin offers right now the full continuum of services for our students with special needs, giving them the opportunity to be in the least restrictive environment. So for some of you, you may say, "Well, what does that mean?" It means that as an applicant, our students have access to a resource center pull out replacement. They can get pushed into a section of, let's say, science, social studies, math, or ELA and have a general education teacher that works with a special education teacher. Unfortunately, we cannot have

037this running at all the buildings because of staffing and we're not going to be able to do it. Let's say PK or let's let's use Marshall Hill. If Marshall has four fifth grade students, potential to be sixth grade students that that class and that cohort of only four students, we're most likely not going to be able to run all four of the continuum of services for Marshall Hill. that if you combine all the students together at maximum level and now we have 48 students that are classified, we can provide self-contained programming, resource programming, whatever the services that the student needs. Um there are successful inclusion opportunities during the school day and throughout the co-curricular. So students with special needs have access to the electives in the same what Mr. um Citro talked about. also those

03830 to 35 extracurricular clubs he talked about. We do have our students participating in those clubs and if we need to we will staff that with an aid. We have our students participating in activity nights. If we need to support them there we will. But our students are are truly a part of that environment. No different than their non-disabled peers. There's a full access to mental health professionals that are within the building. So, I'm not sure if everyone's aware of this, but our case managers do have offices at Hathan School. Um, Dr. will allude to it a little bit later, but if sixth grade does move up, we do understand the need to increase our mental health professional services there. And we do plan to transfer a social worker um to that to to to

039the middle school. When I talk about mental health professionals, they have school counselors, psychologists, social workers, case managers also are able to take feedback from the at the transition planning meetings from the for the sixth grade. We plan to if sixth grade does go up, we plan to do the same thing for our fifth grade families as well. So, after committee input and case manager feedback, this includes our CPAC, which is our special education parent advisory committee. this slide, I'm sure, somewhere in the in the room. Um, we also did an open forum there and we talked with parents there to make sure that we were not missing something in the area of special needs. But what we found is that we can meet the unique needs of all of our students there. And from

040a special ed perspective, we really do not see any any negative to sixth grades moving up. Well, like I said, we will get into the social emotional needs in a little bit, but for now, that gives you an update just on the special ed part. No, I just didn't know how to click. >> Uh coming back to talking about specific content areas um in the areas of music, world language, health and PE. Uh we currently have we host a national champion, state champion band year over year. Um our students at the sixth grade level will be able to have that um increase their opportunities for for banding course. band period every day if they're in the band and the flexible scheduling that uh Franklin has for for course with whether it's a full period or

041be able to take it during their lunch. Um also in our we our current sixth grade um process for Spanish we have a teacher from Mabin who travels to the six elementary schools on a six day schedule. So 5 days a week, six days. So it is a um it is an interesting process especially when our um principles are trying to schedule in to block off 1 hour a day Spanish teacher could possibly be coming on that particular time. So they are locked into having to block it an hour where they really have to push put something in there that that can be moved. And if you think about what we're doing elementary schools nothing nothing can be moved. Everything has value. Everything has has its importance. Um, you know, earlier when I was talking

042about the the flexible scheduling that we sometimes deal with with social studies and science, that's one of the things that ends up getting worse when the Spanish teacher is there on on that day. So, it's a um it is a problematic scenario that we have done a great job managing over the years. This gives us the opportunity for our students to have that dedicated period um every every day for the for the half year or full year of course depending on what uh depending on what grade level they they're at at max. It's very exciting for our um upper middle school and our high school world language teachers to to be able to you know get us that has been um you know on the same page in the sixth grade health and PE. I

043mean to have we have currently have you know we meet the uh meet the state requirements for PE in our elementary schools but we could do better. Uh same thing with same thing with health to to have those dedicated periods to be moving and active every day. Um it is really just uh um you know a good increase on on an already program we do with project adventure our schools of character programs we've been we've been very successful on regoral feeding health and I think only enhances that uh earlier I alluded to um the state standards New Jersey learning standards currently um the only one that the only major content or subcontent and state standards that are not written to the 678 band are studies and they are up for review and speaking to the

044you know the county and the state who are in the process. They are going to mirror our the standards across the other contents and they're going to be written to a you know by the end of grade five by the end of grade 8 sort of uh sort of process. So uh here's you know just a list through them for everyone. These are the these are the standards that are out there and those are the grade bands that they um approach because that is what typically is the the dynamic of the schools in the state of New Jersey and beyond. Middle school students are grades six, seven, eight and they are typically in the in the same building. Um our as I also mentioned earlier just as my last point passing it off that our

045curriculum companies that we are able to materials from build their materials based on state standards. So when they are building state standard material they're building to the K5 model and the 678 model. I had superintendent round table group you know the the PTA president E PTASO all the names I got um and for discussion I pointed out the materials in the corner this is our potential next math program that we have to review and I can only purchase K through five so our there's one grade level that's always left out of the math discussion when we're looking to purchase elementary program and that's grade six because they it's far and few between to find that material you have to look at the sixth, seventh, 8th bundle. And now you have six, seven, sixth grade teachers

046in a different location to our seventh and eighth when you're trying to pull a cohesive group together to discuss what our teachers need to be armed to teach mathematics better. And that's just this one example of the curriculum issue that we often have when purchasing programs for a K6 school that sixth grade is always the outlier that we have to look out for. But that's all right. [Music] So I'm very fortunate. Mr. Ros, who's our assistant principal, has been uh busy working on schedule. He's in the project before. That's why he needs to come. He was uh he's had a lot of experience with a lot of different schedules and we've looked at a number of schedules. Uh we visited number of schools looked at an 8 period day, a 9 period day, a block

047schedule drop. Uh there have been a lot of options considered. Our plan would be to stick with what we have which is a straight A period day. Students get 45minut classes, 3 minutes go from class to class except at the end of the day 5 minutes go through period 78. At the end of seventh period they pack up everything they need at all. bring it to 8th period and from 8th period they go directly to the bus so we don't have them hanging around in their lockers. Uh currently we're at about 530 students. We get them dismissed and on the bus and the buses fall out of the building in about 4 minutes. So it moves really really efficiently. We've tweaked the schedule over the years but um currently like I said it runs straight

048periods, same classes every time, same uh every day. We have classes that run fully year which are most of our core academic classes. We have semester courses and we have our period courses. Um uh current students get we get seven classes plus lunch. And the way we work lunch by us is we feed the entire grade at the same time. So if you can imagine 260 eighth graders all eating at the same time. Uh it's what we do is we take half the group and we feed them first and then the other half of the group goes to our other period lunch class. Uh you see here we call it flex. It's kind of like a study hall period. So half the group will go to class, the other half group will go to flex

049and then halfway through the period after about 22 minutes without a bell they'll switch. And those in lunch will go to their half class. Those in their half class will go to lunch. Um kids have really got a hang of it. It takes a little bit of a while to figure out the first couple days of school. But in addition to study hall, we have STEM, coding, art, and chorus that students can take during lunch. So they don't have to just take a study. They can take an academic as well. This allows us to share teachers between our high school. Currently, right now, we share a science teacher and we share all language teacher. allows us to offer more stuff, more classes for the students and gives us a little bit more flexibility in our

050schedule. But um we've looked at a lot of different options and for what we're trying to do, this is the way our students are best served. Tenative schedule for a potential sixth grader looks something like this. You have your math, science, um English, history. They would have two elective periods in the day, fizz and health every day. and then a lunch period. Should we go this route? The the sixth grade lunch would be 12:32. 7th period, it's about when it when it starts for us now. Currently, we only have lunches period 5 period 6. We do offer breakfast in the morning. So, when students come in in the morning, cafeteria is open. We have bagels over granola bars. Students can come in, grab something, get through the day. If they don't get a chance to

051eat at home, the latest group would eat at about 1:00. That would be about the half lunch period time. So if you have 7B for lunch, your lunch will start a couple minutes before 1:00. Our elective classes, we're currently developing potential electives for sixth graders. I did make a list of some of the ones that we are considering. Obviously, Bannon Forest will be elected for our sixth graders. We're looking at a technology class. We do have a fully function wood shop that our students use six periods a day. We offer a seventh grade class. It's a marketing period right now and an eighth grade semester course in tech and industrial arts. We are in the process of considering a forensics class as part of that related arts cycle. And then art, a multimedia class, a

052public speaking and of course Spanish would be part of computer as part of one of these uh cycles. So we have a lot of different options on the table with different uh time frames. Some would be seers, some would be marketing cures. As Dr. Quig said earlier, we offer full complement mid-class resource, higher class resource, self-contained. Uh this does allow our disabled peers to spend a lot more time with their non-stable leaders. We are currently taking uh some of our self-contained self-contained students and they're joining the leage with their non-stable leaders. Uh currently we have a group of seventh graders in the wood shop 8 period uh with an additional teacher and they're just finishing up their holiday learnings. So they're they're involved. They take multime media as well. So uh this schedule allows us

053to do that where we can take some of our students who might not have the opportunities in years past to be part of our kind of our whole school program. That's it for me. Okay, last couple slides. So our social emotional learning subcommittee seal uh we also believe there's a lot of them to be had moving our sixth graders to Macin Franklin had a much smaller grade span elementary school. If you look at the school it's K to 6 is a seventh grade 7year grade span schools that have preschool it's really an 8year grade span from prek to sixth grade you know seven 10 to eight years difference in children. Um the social emotional needs of a sixth grade students are those of a middle school student. They don't have the same issues that elementary

054children have. They have middle school issues and they're being dealt with in a in an elementary school. Um whether cell phones are the reason for this or they just exacerbated it. Difficult to say, but um we believe that our sixth graders are essentially middle schoolers from a social emotional standpoint. Um to help facilitate this, we would like to transfer, we recommend transferring one social worker uh to Macin to help with the extra grade level. Um to make sure that all of our students are included in everything. So the sixth grade field trip or the black cluster, it would be special education students who would be attached to that cluster to go to the Museum of Modern Art or wherever it is they're going. They would not be left behind because they not they would be

055part of the cluster for purposes of field trips, special activities, things of that nature. Uh they'd have daily access to child study team and guidance. We know those elementary levels. Now they there are some shared personnel at backup. They are staff members who are there all day. And potentially we we're going to have these seventh grade uh overnight trip available regardless. We would potentially add a sixth grade day trip in the fall uh to a place similar to here. We don't know when or where. It would be something very similar without the overnight. It be a full day to a place like here. Uh school also in addition they have a lot of after school clubs. They have late buses three days a week Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. And because the school is larger, they can

056offer more clubs and more after school activities than our elementary schools, which typically only have 34 sixth graders, 33 fifth graders. That kind of has a few hundred, so they can offer more. And each student can find his or her niche. There's some a fees involved, but not by much. Um, so many of our students, most of our students participate participate in one or more clubs. Okay. Transportation. Uh we would continue with our two-tier busing which would be changed to prek to 5 6 to 12 students at a pretty wide grade span here. However, most of our seniors do not ride the bus and many of our juniors do not ride the bus. So essentially you'll be looking at a 6 to 10 grade span on the bus. And if you've seen the bus riders

057we get they're not from back high school. Now those children get on the bus, put on their headphones and kind of just relax. Our elementary buses are where we have all the issues with the the fidgeting and the crabing and the poking. So um we think if anything be a better bus ride for our sixth graders. Um there's no significant changes to bus routes uh for students. Obviously be an earlier start time they' be on the max time schedule which is the bad news and get out and I said there is a late bus offer three days a week for all of our students [Music] facilities um to accommodate an extra grade. We are going to recommend a second cash register in the lunchroom and a second cafeteria worker to man that cashier for that

058register to expedite the lunch service a little quicker. Um we think we need about 40 extra hallway lockers which we believe we have space for right in front of the school anyway. So that's not a major issue. The students would share gym lockers. So they go to gym, they take their clothes off, they put a padlock on the locker. At the end of the period, they change back into the clothes and take the lock with them so the next student can go into the locker room and get changed. So it would be shared your lockers and I think Mr. Go alluded to some some furniture equipment would have to move from sixth grade to max to accommodate 250 extra students. Okay. Uh fiscally, we think this does make sense for our district. I mentioned before

059that to move the sixth graders in 1987 would have cost the district millions to put on addition on the back of the building. I think with economies of scale, you would potentially save two full-time employment positions, which is about $150,000. So this time, this day and age with our state aging quite dramatically, I think that's a a positive. Um there are some economies of scale. So instead of having six sixth grade bands and six sixth grade choruses, you have one essentially that you combine those groups into one larger band rather than six smaller bands, which I think is probably helpful anyway because the nature of a band is the practice to play together not as six distinct separate bands. >> Um everything else is minor onetime cost for this or that. No, I I don't

060anticipate any major costs. The other piece of the puzzle. So, you know what this does to factor benefits academically, socially, fiscally. What does it do to an elementary school? What's the K5 school look like? And K5 is probably the most common configuration statewide for elementary. Um, so the real program, that's the the performance air program. Now, we moved to grade five, which currently is offered now in most districts. the last year of elementary school when you do your uh real program. Um this year we would do it grades five and six to accommodate two classes. Moving forward it would be just grade five and we have spoke to the police department so they are on board with that. It does reduce the need for dual use classrooms. If you see the space at the elementary

061level is a regular classroom with a temporary partition in the middle and there's a half classroom on the left and a half classroom on the right. You wouldn't need that because you'd be picking up two extra sixway classrooms. So each teacher can have kids or hover the classroom. We're talking about special education, reading specialists, encore that teacher. Um we give you great opportunity for counseling sessions. We have social workers at the elementary level who they deal with seventh grade now, but I don't think their time is being spent one along the way. I think there's more focus on the sixth graders because there's more problems in sixth grade than kindergarten. So if you took these sixth grade out of the elementary schools, our elementary social workers would have much more time to dedicate to the

062remaining K to five students so that they'd have much more opportunities to provide services proactively really. Um again same for encore which is our basic skills program with one fewer greater service. We'd keep the same number of onboard teachers but could reduce the number of students they teach so they'd be spending more time with each student. All right. And we could potentially cut the lunch periods from three to two at the elementary level depending on enrollment next year. And most importantly, there's no recommendation to close elementary school. This is sort of a separate just about sixth grade. I don't see any need to close elementary school. So next steps, this is what we'll be doing for the next uh 6 months, 9 months between now and September 2020. What we need to do to get

063ready for our class 9678. [Music] Anybody have any questions? Just a matter of clarification. without certifications. Being that a middle school certificate is not required, does that mean the subject matters subject matter material is not required either or do they need to be certified in math or ELA? They would they would they would be they could be either math certified or page certified each. >> So no certified in subject matter. It's not required. Okay, we do have people who have a KA certificate and a middle school math certificate. We have people with a K certificate and a middle school. So, we have people with both just alone. If you take all the middle school certified elementary teachers to still six teachers who could follow um I had a question similar to Wills and that was

064um you have a teacher who's K through eight elementary certification and not required to have specialty in any specific of the of the core classes. How does the K to8 elementary certification teach algebra and geometry? >> I'm not teaching geometry because you're not doing right. >> We're talking about sixth grade. >> I thought I saw the >> geometry is eighth grade. Geometry is eighth grade >> and geometry was >> eighth grade. Yeah. So, sixth grade will be the highest level periodic which is a little bit above what we're doing now right now. That's six. So, both of the teachers would be teaching somebody else grade. I think that would be too. >> And the other thing I I wanted to be sure of, Mr. citro is that the kids that are put in clusters, they're

065not put in clusters according to their um their test scores. It's just it's just it heterogeneously mixed. Um and what one of the things that we've really been cognizant of is um making sure that we have a band in each cluster. Um because traditionally people had always perceived years ago the band cluster was the alleged smart cluster completely done away with that they're in gold session so it's completely heterogeneous today. >> Thank you. [Music] >> Um can you comment on the changes to the guidance department? I did see explanation of the current guidance department. Would there be changes there? Uh we would recommend moving a social worker to back. >> Okay. The social worker would then so the plan would be that the social worker although it it is coded if you will as a

066child a team social worker but based on the workload analysis that we did that social worker would pick up a lot of that mental health component that might be needed from on the behalf of the guidance counselors. So we anticipate that then by having one, two, three, four, five, six. So six mental health providers for grades six to eight we do feel would be enough. And I could get into the specific numbers but we do >> feel that that's reasonable. >> So where you where you moving them from? >> So we would be transferring the elementary social worker from the elementary team. So it would be one of their we currently we have three child study team social workers. It would be one of those three. So, so now you have you would have two

067social workers for six elementary schools. >> So, now we would actually have I actually have nine child study team members currently. I it would be down to eight child study team members. And then the the workload though again like number-wise, so enrollment, if you just roughly look at enrollment for special education, next year's fifth grade going up special ed wise is 48. But then when you go down to like the fourth grade only 39 students down to third grade is only 44 and it keeps going down. So if you look at the numbers we we can go down by a staff member and still be able to service everyone. And the elementary social workers which those are three social workers that are shared between schools. Their case loads go down by close to 100 students

068depending on what two schools they share. So the average right now, like if you take an Ashbone and Westbrook, they'd be going down by 95 students on their case load, which is pretty significant. >> Yeah. >> Mhm. >> And then just to kind of give the the public the other numbers, Maple Road, PK down by 89. Marshall Hill UG UGL down by roughly 76. >> Thank you. >> Go ahead, Kate. >> I'm sorry. My question was more um for not special ed students, not IEPs, uh like 504 scheduling, grading. So would that and and not mental health just regular guidance >> guidance work. >> Would that social worker be helping with those things or that would just be split with the two that are there? >> Uh that would have to determine that would have

069to deter. >> So there's a chance that the social worker could take some of the general ed kids and work help with their academics and things. >> I mean >> I think we could reass like I think we can rework some of these. So, so let's say that the guidance counselor and Mrs. Johnson and I talked about like we we we would then have to staff together and work together and say, "Okay, are there certain crisis type situations that are happening that the two guidance counselors may be pulled on in the first two months of school?" Okay, then we're going to have our psychologists and our child study team, two social workers pick up all of that to allow the guidance counselors to do what Mr. Sitcher said where they pull down students and meet

070with them within that first month. So, we would have to administratively work as a team and come up with like the way to assign it. But we do anticipate that having that many um staff members at the middle school will definitely be able to service the students there. Okay. >> And still service the elementary. So, be able to service the whole district. >> Thank you. >> As disclaimer, I'm just for the public. I am supportive of this. Uh I just ask questions out of curiosity. need about 40 extra hallway lockers in my interpretation of anything projectwise for a school district. Think of a number and double it. You have an idea. You walk into the middle school. [Music] >> Yeah. >> I used to be a lot [Music] Mr. Kelly. >> Like I said, I

071was just curious because it's a one time. >> It's a one time. They're both likely on state contracts. Uh >> Barb's over there. >> She's hiding from >> came in last week. Company came in next week. >> Okay. >> And I I I will just piggyback on your locker issue. the the issues with the locker in the in the gym is exactly what they've been doing with the high school and middle school probably for years until our enrollment kind of changed over there. So it's not that's not something they do that in high school. It's more of a comment than a question. I was trying to realize while we're going through this, I think we have some PTA um folk out in the audience. If we do move the sixth graders to come, we'll read

072up free of some of their funds coming uh that they work hard for to bring that, you know, bring that to more fun. If there's an issue with the one time cost graduate two classes at elementary level perhaps the district could provide some potential support you know this year only because they have to graduate two classes six and fifth that's I don't know 80 t-shirts or 75 t-shirts normally for one group of students this year you have to spend for two weeks so you budget for it so that's something I think across the board uh for the issue to help the transition. >> Hey, Alex. >> Um thank you for for the details on this. Um very thorough and comprehensive and I know a lot of work. This is kind of a minor question, but

073I think worth just asking if you've been thought about in terms of the tentative schedule that you presented with the sixth graders having lunch 7th period. I question that a little bit. Maybe is there is that in stone where maybe they can be fixed period I just think about they still get snacks now like to go from 7:30 7:00 the ones that have been on the bus if they don't get breakfast that's a long time for them I think so [Music] fourth period lunch which is a little early or a seventh period lunch which is a little late you don't know either I think but the most common signs in the early '7s late [Music] >> the reality is eighth graders. >> Just curiosity question about the foreign language. So Spanish in sixth grade, do

074they teach other foreign languages in seventh grade? Right. So would it just be Spanish? Could they could they have the opportunity to answer that? >> Yeah. Sixth grade, we just >> sixth grade would just have the opportunity for Spanish. >> Only Spanish. >> So that's what we offer now. an offering. >> Anybody else have any other >> thinking about music teachers? >> You're still going to need the music teacher in each elementary school. So that's six. And now you add 400 music students into the middle school. That's going to take additional music teacher. >> Well, we sh we currently share at the elementary level, >> right? We have teachers who travel between elementary schools. So they might serve as neighbor road in Asha or PK and Westbrook or Marshall UGL. They share the teachers. So

075we do share music and art at the elementary levels. So we would have to take a look at that check out that next year and determine the most efficient configuration. But we do share now uh staff if they're shared now with the high school. But the elementary do share in disc. >> I wasn't aware of that when I went to each of your elementary schools for the graduation. So each have different music, >> but I that's why >> apparently >> the other half was somewhere else. >> Those same people went to the other school. Uh it seems like there might be an opportunity. Not that I may be the only one in the district who feels this way, but with that many kids a little bit earlier, you could uh have strengths class, but that's

076something that may take a while. >> Uh I've got a question. >> I know there are people I would move to West Milford because of the quality of our music program any written by anybody without a strength. Uh, one other, this is just a curiosity question. If we're teaching geometry to eighth graders, and then I run through the classes they take. They take calculus in 11th grade. What are they going to take in 12th grade? >> Frank, cal. >> Yeah, >> another calculus. >> This calc [Music] 12th grade. So it does college that's >> there's options >> there's always more >> linear algebra [Music] um Mr. Novak and uh Dr. Thank you so much for the presentation. I want to thank Mr. and I want to thank all the members of the comm of the

077community that were on the committee because I know it took a lot of time and I hope everybody got their questions answered tonight. Um I do know that um a lot of time has been put in and this question has been before this community probably for about 25 years. So I think we're on the verge of finally moving forward. I think it's an educational decision. Thank you for your work. [Applause] capitalization. I just have time to run to the bathroom. Is there a bathroom down here? Um, you know, I have no idea where you go. straight back and then there's a bathroom. [Music] That's what Andy said. Okay. All right. [Music] Uh the the board the board uh has discussed we'd like to open up the discussion of questions from the public now rather than

078under our open you know under our discussion if anybody's interested in giving a question or getting a comment on mappin only if anyone would like to come up and speak now's the time >> should they sign in or not necessarily >> they can sign in, I guess. But I >> Where do I sign? >> There there should be a >> Sure. >> Yeah, I think you're on. >> There you go. >> Hi. Uh, my name is Monica Church. I'm a parent to a fourth and a sixth grader and the UGLPTA president, but uh what I'm about to say is solely my own opinion. Um I was fortunate to be a part of the academic committee this fall to discuss the possible move to Macin. Um it became clear that although the idea was announced in

079June, there had been plenty of planning prior to this. After being a part of this and listen listening to Mr. Citro, I feel confident about this move. Our sixth graders will not just be dumped into the middle school. They will have a similar setup to the current students switching classes, having more options and clubs available to them. They will be treated as middle schoolers, not elementary students, sharing a building with the middle school. To those worrying about it being rushed, I'm not worried because of how much thought has already gone into this. At this point, any issues will only be evident once the move happens. Waiting a year will not change that. To the current fifth grade parents, I'm a little envious of what your child can have next year if this move happens. They

080will have more options than what could be offered at the elementary level for my current sixth grade daughter. Lucky for me, my daughter has excellent teachers at UGL. I understand change is hard. My kids are third generation students at West Milford. Their grandmother attended Hillrest, which was a K to8 school, and then West Milford High School, which at the time was where Makipin is today. Change is inevitable and necessary to grow. So, in conclusion, please do what's best for our students and vote yes on moving sixth grade to Makipin for this September. Thank you. >> Thank you. [Applause] >> Anyone else wanting to speak? >> Okay. Souvenir. >> Um, no other. Okay. >> Okay. Thank you, Dr. Anamone again. And we'll move on to uh special reports and correspondence. Uh >> Mrs. uh Francisco. >>

081Yes, I know. >> Uh we have the um minutes for the um November meetings. Okay. We need a motion. >> Like to make a motion to approve the following board of education meeting minutes. November 19th, 2019 workshop regular meeting, November 19th, 2019 executive session. >> Second that. All those in favor Oh, I'm sorry. Any discussion on the minutes. I'm sorry. I feel like I'm at a disadvantage. I can't see some of you. Uh if not, >> uh all those in favor. >> Any opposed? >> I must say >> Oh, okay. Fine. All righty. Okay. Uh president's report. All I want to say, I would like to wish everybody uh a happy holiday season, merry Christmas, happy Hanukkah. Um I'm sorry it's sad that we had that snow ice. I hope that's not the winter to

082come for us and I hope that you all enjoy your your holidays and have a good season. Public comment. This portion of the meeting is open to the members of the public for the purpose of addressing resolutions on this agenda only. Members of the public who have requested to speak prior to the meeting will be recognized by the chair first. Each speaker will be given five minutes for a period of 30 minutes and then time permitting other public comment limited to 5 minutes per speaker will be allowed until the 30 time minute period transpires. All members of the public speaking during this public comment period are asked to address the topics listed in the agenda. All speakers are asked to sign the register provided and to give their full name, spell their last name, group

083affiliation if appropriate, and provide their address. Issues raised by members of the public may or may not be responded to by the board. All comments will be considered and a response will be forthcoming if and when appropriate. The board asks that members of the public be courteous and respectful of the rights of others. Individuals when speaking, specifically commenting regarding students and employees of the board are discouraged, and the board and the administration will not respond to them. Students and employees have specific legal rights afforded to them by the laws of New Jersey. The board is not responsible and is not liable for any comments made by members of the public. Members of the public should consider their comments in light of the legal rights of those affected or identified in their comments. Members of the

084public are reminded that they are legally responsible and liable for their comments. We have two people signed up for uh public comment tonight. >> Dr. Over had a personal >> Oh, okay. And Dr. Matlo Good evening. >> Oh, it's short. >> Working right now. >> You're good. >> Our first course, I want to apologize for the honeyball that went out today. It was very long. My wife gave it to me. >> But of course, thank you. Thank you, Mr. Sidowitz. Thank you, Mr. Drew. Of course, thank you, Mrs. Orion, for your service. greatly appreciate all your support. Um, obviously for the several years that of course I've known you. Uh, good evening. Tonight I would like to speak in favor of sixth grade moving to Min Middle School. Originally I was going to discuss outside

085organizations supporting the move, for example, the National Association of Middle Schools, the New Jersey Association of Middle Schools defining sixth grade as a middle school grade. But of course, as we know, they're not making that decision for us tonight. We as a community need need to do that. Uh, we want what's best for our kids. Instead, I'd like to talk to any parents tonight that have any reservations about this move, especially parents who have not had a child go through Macken Middle School. I get it. We dropped our kids off at kindergarten orientation and they're in fifth and sixth grade just like that. Um, there's always that fear of the unknown. If we can keep what we're comfortable with, life is good. And all credit to our six elementary schools for creating that amazing experience.

086But our kids will continue to grow. And then we have to ask ourselves that big question. Is it about us or is it about our kids? I know what you're thinking. Come on. You're an employee of the district. You're going to say these things. But I'm also a resident of West Milford. I'm also a parent of two kids that will be affected by this move in the coming years. Using both points of view as an employee and as a parent, our students will have the opportunity to go to a middle school where all credit to Mr. Citro, Mr. Brooks Article, and that Mackin staff for creating a caring and opportunistic environment. Your child will have the opportunity to join an expanded band, music, art program, join the many clubs that are offered, meet new friends

087with similar interests, and become part of one of the best character education programs in this district. Academically, the opportunity to have science and STEM, varying levels, history and civics, absolutely every electives, physical education every single day, access to school counselors, different teachers, independence, and finally that opportunity that I keep hearing creating that root system, those roots in back of the middle school, three years instead of two. Really in conclusion, parents, stakeholders, everybody involved in this process, it's that fear of the unknown that's natural. It's a new school, new students, new teachers. But what's best for our kids are those opportunities that will shape the academic and social lives at Mac School. Thank you. >> Thank you. [Applause] No one else has signed up. >> No. >> Would anyone else like to speak under public comment?

088>> Seeing none, I'd like to close public comments. Second. >> All those in favor? >> I opposed. Okay. We need a >> just want to make two quick edits to the agenda. Couple typos on page eight. Personnel student affairs resolution number 19. the uh club there should be there. Those are winter clubs, not fall. >> And we could also pull one resolution. Um personnel students affairs resolution number 23. Uh we'd like to pull that one from the agenda al together. >> 23. spring track the uh track >> track coach is not going to be taking the position. So we need to >> reopen it and look >> and that's it. >> So we need a motion uh to accept the to adopt the agenda as presented. >> Motion to adopt the agenda as presented. modifications

089>> with the hand carry. >> Hand carries. >> Okay. Hand carry. >> A second. >> All the uh all those in favor. >> Post. Okay. Education. Mrs. Dwer. >> Move to approve items one through eight on the agenda. >> Second. [Applause] >> Eight is one after session. Okay. Second. Uh discussion, please. If I if I'm missing you, yell out because I'm having a hard time seeing down the end of the table. Uh any discussion? >> If not, uh Mrs. Francisco. >> Mrs. Dwire, >> yes. >> Mrs. Fritz, >> yes. >> Mr. Drew, >> yes. >> Mr. Oshinsky, >> yes. >> M O'Brien, >> yes. >> Mrs. Romeo, >> yes. >> Mr. Sidowitz, >> yes. >> Mr. Gino, >> yes. >> Mrs. Van Dyk, >> yes. Motion eight will be after executive session. Uh personnel, student

090affairs, uh Mrs. Fritz, >> I would like to move items 1 through 27 with the removal of 23 and carries 28 through 34. >> Second. >> Uh discussion. >> I have a question. >> Yes. >> Um it on item number resolution number 21. Um, I see that we are [Applause] uh giving more stipens to ban. Um, do we really have the money for this? I I I >> What is it budgeted for? >> It was what? >> It was budgeted. >> It was Okay. Okay. This is for >> any other discussion. Do you have another question? >> No. >> Any other discussion? [Applause] If not, Mrs. Francisco, roll call. >> Mrs. Fritz, >> yes. >> Mrs. O'Brien, >> yes. >> Mr. Gino, >> yes. >> Mr. Oshinsky, >> yes. >> Mrs. Romeo, >> yes. >>

091Mr. Drew, >> yes. >> Mrs. Dwire, >> yes. >> Mr. Sidowitz, >> yes. >> Mrs. Van Dyke, >> yes. >> Operations and finance. Mr. Guina. like to move items one through eight under operations and finance. >> Second >> uh uh discussion >> will >> regarding resolution six of the strategic plan. I'm thrilled to see that on the agenda. I hope everybody is in full support of that for building the greater vision of the district and hopefully the branding of our district. Any other discussion? Dave. >> Yeah, I know the uh comprehensive annual financial report and management report. I'd like to congratulate Miss Francisco again for having almost no, you know, very nominal uh findings there for a district this size. Yes, >> the auditors will be here in January and they'll do the full >>

092do that again. >> Any other discussion? If not, Mrs. Francisco, >> Mr. Garina, >> yes. >> Mrs. O'Brien, >> yes. >> Mr. Oshinsky, >> yes. >> Mrs. Fritz, >> yes. >> Mr. Drew, >> yes. >> Mrs. Dwire, >> yes. >> Mrs. Romeo, >> yes. Mr. Sidowitz, >> yes. >> Mrs. Van Dyke, >> yes. >> Like to move item number nine under operations and finance. >> Second. >> Discussion. >> Uh, if not, Mrs. Francisco. >> Mrs. Fritz? >> Yes. >> Mr. Greeno? >> Yes. >> Mr. Drew? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Dwire? >> Yes. >> Mrs. O'Brien? >> Yes. >> Mr. Ofinsky? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Romeo? >> Yes. >> Mr. Sidowitz? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Van Djk? >> Yes. like to move item number 10 under operations and finance. >> I'm going to stay quiet for

093a little while. Just >> discussion. If not, roll call. Mrs. O'Brien, >> yes. >> Mrs. Romeo, >> yes. >> Mr. Greeno, >> yes. >> Mrs. Dwire, >> yes. >> Mrs. Fritz, >> yes. >> Mr. Oshinsky, >> yes. >> Mr. Drew, >> yes. >> Mr. Sidowitz. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Van Dyke. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> I'd like to move item number 11 under operations and and finance. I was just waiting to see if I could catch Will. [Music] >> Discussion. Mrs. Francisco. Roll call. >> Mrs. Romeo. >> Ms. O'Brien. >> Yes. >> Mr. Gino. >> Abstain. >> Mr. Mr. Shinsky, >> yes. >> Mrs. Fritz, >> yes. >> Mr. Drew, >> yes. >> Mrs. Dwire, >> yes. >> Mr. Sidawitz, >> yes. >> Mrs. Van Dyke, >> abstain. >> Thank you. Uh, policy. Mrs. O'Brien.

094>> My final speaking of the evening. Doc, I'd like to move items one and two under policy. >> Second. >> Thank you. >> Discussion. Will >> on resolution two. Thank you for the board accepting changes to media relations. >> You're welcome. >> I agree with that. >> Any other discussion? >> If not, roll call. Miss O'Brien, >> yes. >> Mrs. Dwire, >> yes. >> Mr. Drew, >> yes. >> Mr. Gino, >> yes. >> Mr. Ofinsky, >> yes. >> Mrs. Fritz, >> yes. >> Mrs. Romeo, >> yes. >> Mr. Sidowitz, >> yes. >> Mrs. Van Dyke, yes. Committee reports. Uh, parks and recreation. Mr. Bino, >> no report. Sorry. >> Safety has no report. Superintendent roundt is tomorrow. So, next meeting will be tomorrow. Uh, the state county school boards. Um, there hasn't been a meeting.

095It's not until January. Uh, New Jersey school boards, no report. Legislative, Mr. Sidowitz. >> Uh, there's been a bunch of legislation passed by the legislature that will be sitting on the governor's desk. Uh, one of which I don't think it affects us because I don't think we fall below adequacy, but it would allow districts below adequacy and schedules state aid to exceed the state with tax levy cap. Secondly, uh the other ones aren't really too busy. That's my report. >> Thank you. Technology. >> So, uh no report, but I know that um we were supposedly working on the cell phone coverage in some of the schools. I don't know uh if we've gotten to that in December. I thought we were supposed to. So, where we at? Good to know. I'll update. We're going to

096try to schedule a meeting for after the new year once a new committee this year. >> Yeah, I know. We're waiting on some equipment that I don't think we got here. >> We're scheduled for I believe the second week in January >> and I'm holding their feet to the fire. >> I know you love them. So, >> Thank you. Uh the township and board of education joint committee, Mrs. Dwire, >> our meeting was postponed uh because of weather. and we're just waiting on another date. >> Okay. Casa, uh, Mrs. Romeo or Mrs. Fritz, either one. >> Um, there was a meeting last week and there is a new CASA coordinator, Katherine McGur. Um, Katherine is she has hit the ground running. Um, she's working so hard. She completed all the grant paperwork and submitted it.

097Um, looked great. So hopefully That's all a positive. We'll see if she if they get the grant that's more programs and prevention for our students and our entire community. Um uh it's very exciting Casa right now and um I believe she's met with many of our school administrators uh looking for prevention programs and ideas and new you know bringing some change and new ideas. So, it's very exciting. Great meeting. Um, and looking to, you know, get some new community members at CASA, too. >> Oh, glad I'm glad that they they did get somebody. That's great. >> It was wonderful. >> Good. >> Yeah, it's important. Uh, old business. Anyone have any old business? >> Mr. Sidowitz, >> I have to. All right. >> Yeah. Uh I hope that the board continues to explore board certification.

098Um with regard to the strategic plan as part of board certification and the other New Jersey school board association offerings are fully beneficial to new and old board members alike and create an environment of collegiality. So my hope is that that continues. >> Any other old business? Uh, I think I'm >> on the to close old business. >> Second. >> Okay. >> I'm sorry. Did you want to >> I was gonna say something old business. >> You Debbie, you are you are really you want to move this meeting right along. I I I just I I I wanted to say thank you to Mrs. O'Brien and Mr. Sidowitz and Mr. Drew for their years of service on the board. It it's it's it's a thankless job and sometimes we forget that. um you know, we

099we get very seriously into this and and we we lose we lose track of some things and I want to say thank you. Um I you've been an asset to our community and whether we agree or disagree, thank you for your service because no one knows more than when you have to give time your time away from your family and you have to do different things that maybe you're not comfortable with. So, I I want to say thank you to you. I really do appreciate the time that you've given to the board. >> Thank you, Mrs. Thank you. >> I'm sorry I didn't. >> Now, now we can move on. >> We need Uhuh. >> resolution. >> Yeah. Okay. We're going to go uh we need a motion >> to close. >> Oh, I'm going

100to go. >> Go ahead, Deb. >> I'd like to close business. >> Second. >> Thank you. Yay. >> All those in favor? >> I. Any opposed? New business. Dr. Anamo. >> Yes. >> Yeah. There's >> Go ahead then. I'll go next. She called you first. >> You sure? >> Yeah. >> All right. >> Okay, Debbie. >> People watching. >> I'd like to propose that the board approve this evening the moving of the sixth graders to McAppin School beginning the 2020 to 2021 school year going forward. >> Second. discussion. >> Mr. Sidewitz, >> what just happened? >> There's a motion on the floor >> to to move to movein um >> to move the the sixth grade to Minion. Um I don't feel that it is in my purview as a board member that is leaving

101to be the one to make that decision. So, I'm going to be standing when uh it becomes my turn. >> Okay. >> Any other discussion? >> Mrs. O'Brien? I I I disagree because we've been involved in it throughout the entire time and no disrespect to the three coming on the board but they have not been in committees and they have not gone to these meetings. So that is why I'm proposing it this evening. >> Mrs. Fritz, >> I would agree. I think, you know, similarly, no disrespect to anyone coming on, but this has been a conversation at least on and off for the last couple years since I've joined the board. And I think it's important that, you know, those that have the knowledge and the background and have been part of the committees and

102the discussions as a board member come to this um to help make this decision >> discussion. Uh did you have the Go ahead. Go ahead, Kate. Well, being um what all of you just said about communication, I'm I feel um really dumbfounded that that would come up being that that's a really big issue to not be on the agenda and I don't feel prepared to vote on that. I would like to know coming in what we're voting on or you know, it would have been nice to communicate that we were looking to move this tonight. Um, when I read the agenda, I felt like we were doing exactly what we had said to the community, which was voting on it in January. If we were going to vote on it tonight, I would have personally

103appreciated discussion in committee meetings or a phone call from anyone that was looking to move it tonight being that this is the absolute first second that I heard that that's possible. Did you have something there? >> Wait, it was something completely different than this. >> Oh. Oh. Oh, wow. Well, >> this seems more spirited. >> Uh, in this very room, I've been a part of decisions that have made me unpopular and have caused iron. And I learned something from that. When the words is the recommendation of the superintendent to approve, that means something. If it's not printed on paper and doesn't have the recommendation of the superintendent to approve, some things get lost in translation down the line. Those are motions that can eventually be voided and I can't find myself voting favorably for it

104because I do think it's the best decision when in reality it's not printed on paper. There's certain mechanics that happened and I was not aware of it as I'm not comfortable with that. Mrs. Fritz, at >> the last meeting we talked about possibly doing it in December or January, and I think I I don't think a decision was made. I think it was left to let's see if we got all the committee reports in time, which we did. Um I think we've gotten all the information we're going to get. I don't anticipate getting any additional information between now and January. I don't know. I don't know what else we'd be looking for. I think everyone around the table has an opinion at this point. And as far as what you're saying, well, Dr. Random presented

105the report and said yes, I I'm supporting this. I he he said those top three questions about his recommendation is to say yes to this. So I I just don't know what other information that we need. I think we've gotten all the details at this point. I don't know what the sooner we do it, the sooner they can take action on getting things in motion and delaying another month is that that could actually hurt. >> Dave. >> Yeah. Um you know my concern we spoke about this in the education committee meeting Dr. Alamone and Mr. Novak you know they are confident they can do this you know in the time that was my main concern and I have full confidence in them so I'm I'm ready to move ahead with this. >> Terry you had

106a >> Yeah. Um ultimately this is an administrative administrative decision and I think that we need to uh trust our administration. We need to support them and we need to move this program and this resolution forward. >> Thank you, >> Mr. Drew. >> Uh for a lot of reasons, those presenters and thoughts my own about this. I think that this will improve ac education and academics. So, I think it's it's a good move for the students even though there's certainly um disruption. Nobody likes changes. Dr. Matlo pointed out I do have a legal question. Can we bind a future board >> in this? What >> bind a future board? >> What is that? I don't see any question. >> Well, I think I think Andy will handle it. >> Andy's our attorney. Let's let him

107handle it. That's what we're paying him the big bucks for. >> Pressure on. So the idea of binding a future board, the implementation of this decision won't take place until the new board is seated in January. >> Can't hear you. >> I'm sorry. I'll try it in this direction. Sorry. No, the and I should turn on my microphone, but I just won't. >> That was a smart move that you didn't. >> That's why um the idea of binding a future board is that the the the act the implementation date of this is not going to take place until the new board is after the new board is seated. So there's there's always a question um or there's often a question about whether this board should do something that's going to start during the life of

108the next board or the other one. Um and the results are kind of mixed. If you were there sometimes collective bargaining agreements we ask you to vote on. I don't think in this instance because you've been talking about it because the board and the public have been put on notice it that it was going to take place. I don't think this is a huge issue. Um and it can be rectified if it becomes one. We can just approve it again in January if it comes to that. But I don't think there's anything any impediment to doing it tonight. >> I hope that was >> No, it's my it's my name. I'm always saying it. >> Mrs. Van Dyke, can I make a comment to Excuse me? >> Can I make a comment? >> Yes, please.

109>> Point of clarification to everyone. Um, when we notice the revision of this meeting from Tuesday night to tonight, I we included in there that action may be taken on this particular item. >> Yes, we did. >> Tonight. So, um, I just want to let everyone know that because everyone did get the meeting notice. I think the Honeywell also did include that. I'm, you know, I'm not sure, but I'm pretty positive. Ray, then I'll let you go. Kate, >> thanks. So, you know, in listening to what Will was saying, something in writing means something, there's a great presentation that was given today and Dr. Dr. Edone, you in the beginning of that presentation, there were three key questions. Uh determine if the sixth grade can be moved. Uh on that presentation, it did say yes.

110>> Determ determine should the sixth grade be moved to MAPIN? I think on that presentation, he also clicked and said yes. And then the last one was it is in the best interest of our children. It said yes. So could the presentation be like I don't know. Can that become part of this? I mean that that's in writing. It's what Dr. Anam recommended. >> I'll post it on the website anyway. I'll post on the website anyway tomorrow become part of this record right >> they can see it on our website for sure allowed Barbara >> can that >> be part of the resol part of the motion you mean >> yeah I mean it should be part of >> well I I believe the resolution >> can be worded that Dr. Anamon is recommending that

111>> I'm trying to listen what will said in like the superintendent's word means something. >> There it is. It's in writing. It does say yes. >> The recommendation. >> Yeah, we can do that. >> So, could I could I rephrase this then? >> Yes. >> Can I I would like to amend it and say and help me out Andy because I need amend. I would like to propose that the board approve this evening the moving of the sixth graders to McAppen school beginning the with the 2020 2021 school year by the recommendation of Dr. and moan our superintendent of schools. >> Second. >> Okay. Now we have to vote >> On the amendment, >> not on the motion, but on the amendment. >> On the amendment. >> Okay. Well, >> voting on voting on it

112tonight. >> No, you didn't. >> No, we Oh, no. We didn't vote on We were still in discussion. >> Still discussing. >> So, we still have >> You can still amend that motion. And you might actually, since you're adding it upon the recommendation, superintendent, you don't have to take it off the table. You can while the discussion is taking place, >> um you can add to it consistent with the recommendations sent forth in the handout. >> Dave did second that. >> Okay. So now I'm not writing this. Am I supposed to be writing this down? >> It's your unless you want me to write it and send it over here so I know what you started with. >> We need it written down because we're going to have to read it. It's going to have

113to be read when we're finished. >> And Barbara's going to >> And Barbara has to put it as far part of the record. Uh, so am I am I >> taking a vote? >> You got Now you wait. So you need to >> let Debbie finish writing and then reread the vote on the >> Can I discuss now? Can I do discussion motion? >> You need a motion. >> Okay. Can I read this again? >> Yes. It's been amended. >> I'm just reading this again. I would like to propose that the board approve this evening the moving of the sixth graders to Makipin School beginning the 2020 to 2021 school year recommended. >> No, >> as per recommend the recommendation. >> Per the recommendation. as recommended. >> I did not know it's going to be

114secondary >> of the superintendent >> and consistent with this presentation. We just want >> consistent >> with this presentation >> with the presentation presented this evening. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Second for the third time. Okay, Dave. >> So now we're >> So now you can discuss the amendment motion. >> Okay. Discussion on the amendment to the motion. >> Will, >> that's why it's so important to have it written down so we don't have to do these amendments. >> Thank you, Will. Kate, did you have >> Yeah. Um, I think many of you think that I'm against the sixth grade moving to Makipin because as of everyone, I've probably asked the most questions. Um, I've probably held a thought about each and every step of it. I'm not against it. I'm prepared to follow the

115superintendent's re vote for the superintendent's recommendation when it is on the agenda. um and when I knew I was coming to a meeting to vote for it. However, when you do your board of education training, they talk about trust with the community and transparency and communication with one another and with the community. And what's been out in the community the entire time was that it would be voted on in January. So, I'm just really disappointed that this would come up in public. Um, and the second thing is, um, it also just really makes me concerned about the people that voted in our new members. Maybe they voted them in because they liked the way that they thought about the sixth grade situation, you know. Um, I just think it was just very unfair way to

116to go about it. >> Any Nicole? Um, I just I mean I I respectfully disagree because I feel like we've all been talking about this for so long that it was a possibility that it would come up now. And I again I think whether we do it now or in a month from now, I think we all knew that this was a potential vote to come. I think what we have to keep in mind is that we, you know, personally I get it. I get that there are concerns and to Dr. Matlo's, you know, comments earlier that change is hard and it's scary. I have a sixth grader and I have an eighth grader and I wish both of them could have been in McPathin for a number of reasons. Socially, the opportunities um academically

117uh to have gym every day and burn off extra energy. There's a million reasons. But I also understand that not every child fits that mold and that there's concern about, you know, kids that are, you know, individual situations. And I think what we heard tonight was a pretty impressive report on how they're going to handle that. And I challenge the administrators to take those into account and be very transparent about the communication of all of this going forward. And you know what, it's going to be a little bumpy and I think we all have to understand that. But our job as a board is to take a look at this holistically across the entire district for every child at the broad level knowing that there are going to be those individual circumstances. And I think

118those of us around this table have been part of those deep conversations. Most if not all of us served on a committee. We've been in education committee and personnel committee and we've talked about this. I don't see where putting this off a month is going to put anyone else in a better position to make this you you I mean we've all been educated enough at this point to make this this isn't like a surprise. This didn't come up with no background. So I really encourage everyone to to support this at this point. Right. >> So, um, you know, at the candidates night, whenever that was a month and a half or two months or so ago, there were two people there that could speak about this move to sixth grade, Will and Steve. And then

119there were four additional folks there. And I think I remember listening to all four of them saying, "Hey, I don't really know enough about it to make that decision on whether or not this should happen or not." And and I appreciated that honesty. and Kendrick was right. They really didn't have the information that >> that Steve and Will had. So with that, I mean, I, you know, I listened, does it make sense for the folks that have been involved in this over the last 6 months to think about and make that decision as opposed to bringing them in? cuz right you maybe as a new board member I might need 2 or 3 months to get acclimated and understand this and um you know so I know where you're coming from Kate but I also

120feel like we might be putting something on >> I get it January is a tough meeting to begin with >> so that's that's fair >> the three new board members know just as much right now tonight as I do >> with the presentation >> well you don't think so >> you were part of the committees right >> yes Okay. >> I I I I because I I I think >> it's fine. We could just vote. It's totally fine. I just wish someone had called me like the hours before coming in that this was going to come up. >> You didn't. >> Okay. >> All right. Let's vote. Sorry. >> Uh well, what what I'm going to say because I get to say something. So, I'm going to say something. Um, I think I think the

121amount of time that's going to be wasted in going into January is more time wasted for the the the PTAs and the parents and the groups that you could lose another month and a half or six weeks for them to get prepared to do what needs to be done. Um, I also feel that the three board members that are sitting here have given their time and and put a lot of effort into this decision. I also feel that Makipin has been on this plate for this board, not this board sitting here, but West Milford Board of Education for 20 years. And this is an a chance for us to move our district forward. I do not I do not want to slight the new board members in any way by moving that vote forward, but

122I also feel that you're also disenfranchising the three members who sat through all the meetings by not giving them a chance to vote on it. I can I I may be wrong, but I feel that the community as a whole had a chance to come out tonight. And what I see here is a lot of positive. I don't see a negative. And I don't see people saying you I don't think we're on a fence. Like I don't think people are sitting on a fence here. I think that the community is ready for this and we just have to make that decision. Whether the new board makes it or this board makes it, we have to move forward. The outcome depending on the vote, which I don't, we'll see that may not change either way because

123we're talking about three new members and we need a majority of six, majority of five to pass this. Correct? >> Yes. Yes. >> Okay. So, it may not change, you know, even if we did move it to January, it more than likely would be the same vote. So um I myself am ready to go forward. Uh I I think we may disagree to disagree on where we are on that process. Is there any other discussion? >> Yeah. Um I think there was a fair amount of notice of the community and we do have a good turnout here tonight. Uh people had the opportunity to speak um including our our new folk >> uh coming on the board. Um haven't heard any negatives. I I feel that you know the the community is has had a

124fair chance and I'm getting a sense they're approving it because I have not heard any negative comments on it. If not, uh, I we'll close discussion. >> I sat on a letter because I'm not speaking, but what is the rush on doing it for this year? >> There there isn't a rush. We just feel that I I I think that the group we shouldn't be going back and forth like this. That's why there was public comment, too. I'm sorry. matter that everyone on board >> and as as our public comment says we we may or may not respond to some of those type of things. I'm not going to go back and forth with the audience, >> but by voting on it tonight, it does take away the chance for public comment. And >> there

125was public comment, >> I understand, but they still would have one more chance to so if we have a >> I need I need a I need a motion to move the question. I think >> is there a motion? We have motion open >> as Yeah, >> we roll call is what we need for this class on the amendment. >> No, you already voted on the amendment. No, you I would reread the motion and get a second on the motion on the floor. You could ask for comfort. Otherwise, >> I would like to propose that the board approve this evening the moving of the sixth graders to school beginning the 2020 2021 school year. the recommendation >> by the recommendation >> of the superintendent and consistent with the presentation this evening. >> I'll second that.

126>> Okay. Now, this we're voting on the motion now. >> Ray, >> I can't I I would just like to say because we're doing this, it's a whole new motion. I wouldn't mind I don't know if I can do this. Could I make a motion to open the mic for additional public comments? >> I second. >> I I How can you do that in the middle of a motion? >> Why not? This is a brand new motion and nobody know knew about. >> Actually, I don't do it for It's not really common, but I think that there's the difference here from the board's perspective and from the public's Mr. It's not my place to recognize Mr. Drew >> on the parliamentary order. >> Yes. Did we amend the original motion and we're doing them both

127together? >> Yes. And now we're the motion. >> It's the amended motion that's on the table >> and the amendment, >> right? >> If we did something with regard to public com comment that is related only to this motion, >> right? >> I think it is just additional parliamentary action on the motion before the board. Mhm. >> I think Mr. Drew is right. More importantly is the public didn't know this motion was we asked for questions on the presentation. Now that we're voting on it, it's only fair to give the public a chance to weigh in. >> So yes, Will, >> I move to table the motion till after the second public comment section. >> We have to consider >> No, we there's already a motion on the table. And the motion table is still

128in order. Somebody want to second. >> I would like to second Ray's motion for further. >> That was your mo. You made a motion >> for the public >> for justice. So now he's got a motion to on the table >> when you don't talk. I don't think it is in order. >> You start. >> I see that I agree. on the motion to table. >> The motion to table takes precedence over the other motion. >> That's what that's what I'm saying. >> All right. So, >> it's 61 half. >> All right. So, we you're you're we have to we have to move on will's motion to table, >> but it's going to be t it's going to be tabled only until the second public comment session, which avoids having three public comment sessions that

129we would have with Mr. Boritos. >> Okay. We could do well >> that you're saying we can do that. >> Okay. So you need a second on your motion to >> Okay. >> There's second to raise >> discussion on the motion. I'm really >> I have a question. Is that a motion to table permanently? Motion to table indefinite. Motion to postpone the comment section. >> I seconded raise originally. I will second. >> We will vote on it. >> All right. We we have to like let each person talk and not talk through each other because that's where we're getting the confusion. >> Okay. So, there's a motion on the table >> to table the motion for the move to MCAP the move to Mccapin until after the public comment. >> So, the the discussion is

130on that. If there's no discussion, we can go move on to vote on that motion on Will's motion. Roll call. Mrs. um Mrs. Francisco, roll call on this one. >> Mr. Sidowitz. >> Yes. >> Mr. Drew. >> This is the motion to table. >> Motion to table until after the the last public comment. >> It's not to table it forever. >> It's to offer public comment and to after that. >> I think we're out of order. Mhm. >> Well, I can only follow what >> that's fine. >> Mrs. Dwire, >> no. >> Mrs. Fritz, >> Mr. Motion after the last >> M O'Brien. >> Yes, >> Mr. Oshinsky. >> Yes, >> Mrs. Romeo. Yes, >> Mrs. Van Djk. >> Yes. >> Okay. So, we can open it up for public comment. >> Well, so are

131we still in new business? >> New business. >> No, we're doing our new business and then we'll move on to public comment. >> So, uh I want to pick up here new business. We have a few resolutions I'd like to read. >> Can I just I just want to make a comment on new business. >> I just want to make a comment because I'm not going to be here next meeting. >> Okay. So, I just wanted to welcome and congratulate because I know they're here, Courtney and Mike and Jay. Again, I apologize. I'm not going to be here >> on the 7th. So, congratulations a little bit early to the three of you um for getting into this. >> Yeah. >> Welcome. >> All right. Thank you. I just cuz I wasn't going to be

132here. Thanks. >> So, we have >> You can go now. >> We have three outgoing board members uh this evening. This will be their last uh meeting as board members. So we have three resolutions and three flexs. I'd like to read them individually if it's okay with the board. >> Yes. >> So first one is whereas Mr. William Silitz has served as a prominent member of the West Milford Township Board of Education from January 2017 until December 2019. And whereas Mr. Sidowitz has diligently served on the budget and finance personnel and policy committees and was a liazison for the New Jersey school boards association parks and recreation township board of education technology oversight and legislative committees. And whereas Mr. Sidowitz held uppermost the welfare of our students in his decisions and served with great skill

133and dedication. Whereas his service on the board has brought him the respect of his colleagues on the board, the administrative staff and the teaching and support staff. Now therefore, be it resolved that the board of education on behalf of the grateful community publicly acknowledges and expresses its sincerest appreciation to Mr. Sidowitz for his outstanding contributions to the West Milford Township Public Schools. And be it further resolved that this resolution be spread upon the minutes of the workshop regular meeting of the board of education of December 17, 2019 and presented to Mr. Situs. >> Yes. >> Stairs are like awkward. That's good. >> Oh god. >> We needed a motion. >> We We have to move that. >> Yeah, we move. >> Yes, we didn't move it. We need a motion. >> I'm done tonight. It's

134been a bad day all around for me, I have to tell you. Uh, >> I'd like to make a motion to approve the resolution that was just read. >> Second. All those in favor disc. Okay. Discussion. Yes. I was trying to skip it, but okay. Go ahead. Now, >> good evening everyone. This opportunity to address you. On June 23rd, 2015, as a member of the public, I first spoke at a board meeting, butterflies in my stomach, and trying to impart my opinion on how to make the district better. To me, the start of my journey to this moment tonight and my reputation of me always having something to say. Over the past few years, the mere mention of old business or new business, guarding me, I turn and sometimes size as the board waits just

135what I have to say next and thus extending our meetings that much longer. I'll make this short and sweet with the good, the bad, and the ugly. And I like bad news first. I'll take a step further with the ugly. The ugly. Because of my service, I've had my car key. I've been bered while performing. My brother was yelled at in the shop parking lot because of a case of mixed identity. And I've been ignored by colleagues at school board functions. The bad. I've seen good motions and ideas dismissed as a result of personality differences. I've seen far too many gotcha moments and that simply create tensions and don't move the district forward. The board has been through quagmires of meetings for nonsense that ultimately took away from the education of our students. And we've

136seen a huge percentage of state aid cuts that will further came the good. The board has ended the revolving door of superintendent. We finally have full attendance at graduations. We've seen great programs that are flourishing, being added, reinvented, and we've embarked on correcting huge and long-standing infrastructure needs. Math scores are improving and West Milford is still a great place to grow up as a kid. Thank you to the public. I've received so much support and outreach from people who I never knew until they expressed their strong support during my re-election campaign. They paid attention to the things I did and said it was powerful. It was because of their support that I had this opportunity. I'd like to thank the New Jersey School Board Association and the Pose County School Board Association for all the

137hard work that they put into keeping boards informed and for the opportunities of training that they provide us. Thank you to my colleagues. Through you, I've learned the greater importance of compromise and building the consenses consensus to move great ideas forward despite our differences. I truly respect all of you and your commitment to making this district great. Thank you to all the personnel of our district. From the first light that goes on in a building to the last light you go out, this school district is a hive that's buzzing with thoughts, dreams, growth. It's an incredible joy to watch. Lastly, and most importantly, thank you to our students. I've had the greatest opportunity to see how bright our future will be by being a scout master to young boys and girls, teaching music lessons, being

138an active member of the Upper Green Lake activities committee, and now I've seen the great things that all our students can achieve within the school district. When I hear things that echo that the future is dim or that our youth are on the wrong track, I shake my head and strongly disagree because I've seen with my own eyes the aspirations, talents, and promise of a youth that has better tools, programs, guidance, and opportunities that we at this day wish we had. Our students have been an absolute inspiration to me and nothing ugly or bad that happened to me or this gesture was as good as what our students can and will do for our world. Decisions I made and the differences in opinion that I've had with others will boil down to two words, thorough

139and efficient. >> I hope that these words are always the guiding force behind all the board's actions. Good luck to our newly elected trustees. No longer considering the words of thorough and efficient. My advice is to train, train, train. Train weekday, weekend, week nights, online, offline, knowledge is power. And in this complex educational world, your knowledge becomes a tremendous benefit to our students. As a near lifelong resident and graduate of our school district, I came with the earnest intention of giving back to the community as a public servant. In this intent, I feel I've greatly succeeded in that influence in the stride that this district has taken. It is truly an honor to have been a trustee. I believe that West Mover's true potential hasn't been fully tapped yet, and you all know me well

140enough to know that I can go on much further about many more issues, but I wanted to keep it brief so that Big >> with this final speech of my turn. Please enjoy the quieter moments, the whole business and new business. I will note that every time I raised my hand, I always took into account one ultimate consideration. Will it benefit our students? To this fact, I did everything that I felt would benefit our students to provide them with a thorough and efficient education. Again, thank you for this opportunity. It's been incredible. God bless you all and good night. [Applause] We have to vote on the the motion. >> I will >> unwill because that was his discussion. >> So any other discussion under his that motion? >> If not. >> All those in favor?

141>> I. >> Any opposed? >> Sorry to see you go, Will. You keep my You keep me alert. And uh we have our second outgoing board member here uh Mr. Drew. Um whereas Mr. Steven Drew has served as a prominent member of the West Milford Township Board of Education from January 2015 until December 2019. And whereas Mr. Drew has diligently served on and chaired the budget and finance committee, served on the education and negotiations committees, and was a liazison for the leg legislative and technology oversight committees. And whereas Mr. Drew helped uppermost the welfare of our students in his decisions and served with great skill and dedication. And whereas his service on the board has brought him the respect of his colleagues on the board, the administrative staff and the teaching and support staff. Now

142therefore, be it resolved that the board of education on behalf of the grateful community publicly acknowledges and expresses its sincerest appreciation to Mr. Drew for his outstanding contributions to the West Milford Public School District. And be it further resolved that this resolution be spread upon the minutes of the workshop regular meeting of the board of education of December 17th, 2019 and presented to Mr. >> I need a motion. >> I'd like to make a motion to pass the resolution that was just recommended. >> Second. >> And any discussion? >> Can I say a few words? >> Yeah. >> Yes. I didn't prepare a speech, but as you well know, I don't need to to be longwinded. You'll be good at it. >> I can do that all on my own. >> Um, really, I'm I'm

143honored and humbled that I got a chance to do this. Um, I think this is uh uh just critical to the future of West Milford and um I'm I'm I'm pleased people gave me a chance. Uh, I believe my name was the last name on the ballot all four times that I ran and somehow people found their way down there to elect me anyhow and I really really appreciate that. Um, I'd like to thank the uh parents uh public, our employees that I think are really the strength of our system and uh uh my colleagues for the times. Um, we have great people I think who are coming onto the board. I'm very pleased. Um, good people who are doing this for the right reason. They want to help our kids and that's the reason

144all of us should be here. Uh, just briefly tell a little story quickly. Two guys walking in the uh, savannah in Africa hear a lion roar. One of them takes off running and the other guy shouts, "You can't outrun a lion." And he shouts back, "I don't have to outrun the outrun the lion. I just have to outrun you." Our school system is a bit like that. That we're in fact competing with Jefferson and Ringwood and the towns around us for people who are considering moving to this part of New Jersey. And the school system is the forefront. That is the single strongest reason why people move one place instead of another. Even for people who don't have kids in the system, it affects property values. It affects the neighbors. It is truly the most

145important thing that we have to do as parents, as the public, is to do everything we can to give our kids as many opportunities as available. We can't make them do anything. They may want to grow up and sit in a chair and play video games all day long, but we can give open doors and and I I'm personally I'm very pleased that we have in fact improved academic performance, especially in math while I've been here. It isn't anywhere near what I was hoping to accomplish, but I think we're on the right path. I hope we continue that. Um and and really that is our employees. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for doing that and thank you for the opportunity that I had. >> Any other discussion? Karen. >> Um Mr. Drew, I would

146like to thank you for the support that you've given to our curriculum, to the research that you've done, to the hours that you've spent dedicating um yourself to our math programs. Um, I'm going to miss working with you and I thank you very much for what you've done. >> Thank you. >> More completely lost. >> Want your good side. I just need a voice vote. All those in favor >> I lastly two full terms as board member. Thank you very much. Uh whereas Mrs. Debbie O'Brien has served as a prominent member of the West Milford Township Board of Education from January 2014 until December 2019. And whereas Mrs. O'Brien has diligently served on and chaired the personnel and policy committees, served on the negotiations, budget and finance and education committees, and was a liazison for

147the West Milford Education Foundation safety and Pay County School association committees. And whereas Mrs. O'Brien held uppermost to welfare of our students in her decisions and served with great skill and dedication. And whereas her service on the board has brought her the respect of her colleagues on the board, the administrative staff, and the teaching and support staff. Now, therefore, be resolved that the board of education on behalf of the grateful community publicly acknowledges and expresses its sincerest appreciation to Mrs. O'Brien for her outstanding contributions to the West Milford Township Public School District. And be it further resolved that this resolution be spread upon the minutes of the workshop regular meeting of the board of education of December 17th, 2019 and presented to Mrs. De O'Bri. >> Second. >> I wasn't going to vote on this.

148You know, >> now you I I was ready to put you in as the mover. >> Oh, thank you so much. Do you want me to read my little spiel first? >> Yes. Discussion will be up to you. >> I would like to take this opportunity to thank Alex, Barbara, Dan, and Liz for all their hard work, knowledge, and talents. I enjoyed working with you and appreciate everything you provide to our district. Thank you, Andy Brown, for your guidance and camaraderie during times of negotiations and is now our lawyer at our board meetings. The district is in very capable hands because of your knowledge of our district and of the rules and regulations that districts are to follow. To my fellow board members present around this table as well as those who previously served, thank

149you for your service and dedication. Every trustee brings knowledge to the board that benefits everybody. Best wishes to Jason Stillman, Michael Colin, and Courtney Stevenson in their new positions as trustees. To the West Milford education community, and I mean everyone, thank you is not enough. But I hope you know that I can do it. >> I can do that. But I appreciate your dedication and hard work in a profession that should be better respected, is misunderstood by some, and gets lip service where it should be supported. >> To the West Milford community, thank you for your support of our board of education as well as our as well as our educational community. A big thank you is a a big thank you is a must to the three most patient and supportive men in my

150life. My husband John and our sons Bill and Dan. Thank you for believing in me and letting me pursue my interest without judgment or worry about costs. Well, maybe that me pushing be pushing it a little bit. There is an expression that it takes a village to raise a child. I would like to expand on that. It takes a village to support an educational community. If we all take the time to help raise, to care, and assist our educational community, which is our children, our teachers, our staff, and our administration, as well as our facilities and programs, everyone benefits. Thank you. Oh no. Do that one again. I'm so we uh discussion. Go ahead, Nicole. >> Wait until after Debbie. But I just want to wish Steve and Will and um Deb the best of

151luck. Um we may not have always agreed around the table, you know, our decisions. But I think we always come to a place of respect and um I think that we share a common thread in that, you know, we all know what it takes to sit around the table. It's not always easy. Um but at the end of it, we all want the best for the district. Again, I think we've had some really great discussions from late nights and a little bit of fun along the way. So, I wish you all the best. Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Anyone else? Terry, >> definitely miss your sense of humor. You have been as serious of you as you have been. You've also made us laugh when when things go really well and I

152appreciate that. And to echo the goal, I agree with you that >> and hopefully stay involved. >> Yeah, it's a bittersweet feeling for me. It's because of my family. That's why I had to do this. But I I I will miss everybody. I pro I and I will stay involved just to do the best way. You'll find me great. Okay, >> Dave. >> Yeah. I also like to uh thank Will and Steve for the service. Uh I don't know if many people know, but they are to blame for me sitting here. They kind of got me into this. So, um you know, but yeah, it's been great. And also with Debbie, uh Debbie and I knowing each other since our kids were in school together. It's been a real pleasure serving. Yeah, we if we

153can remember that far back. >> Yes, I do. I do. Thank you. >> Uh it's been a real pleasure serving with you. Thank you. >> Same here. Thank you, >> R. I'll just say uh Will, thanks for always having the spirited conversation with me and being a vocal one and sometimes being the quiet one to challenge things. Uh Steve, thanks for the knowledge that you've been able to impart on me. And uh Debbie for being the neighbor five doors down for 20 plus years. So, uh, thanks for that and many more years to come. And, uh, yeah, you you're all the reason that, uh, I said now's the time to do this also. So, thanks. >> Any other discussion? If not, all those in favor? >> I, any opposed? >> If not, move forward. Uh,

154any other new business? >> Second. All those in favor? >> I. >> Any oppose? >> Okay. Public comment. Here we go. This portion of the meeting is open to the members of the public having a legitimate interest in the actions of the board for the purpose of addressing any subject matter pertinent to and or directly related to the operation of the West Milford Public School District. 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. Then time permitting other public comment limited to 5 minutes per speaker will be allowed until the 30 minute time period transpires. All speakers are asked to sign the register, provide and give their full name, spell their

155last name, group 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 considered will be considered and a response will be forthcoming if and when appropriate. The board asks that members of the public be courteous and respectful of the rights of other individuals when speaking. Specifically, comments regarding students and employees of the board are discouraged, and the board and the administration will not respond to them. Students and employees have specific legal rights afforded to them by the laws of New Jersey. The board is not responsible and is not liable for any comments made by members of the public. Members of the public should consider their comments in light of the legal rights of those afforded those

156affected 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, come on up. [Music] My name is Gina McFarland. I reside at 50 Paradise Road, Oakidge. And my daughter is in fifth grade at PK and my son is in first grade. I am not against the mom. I just am concerned of doing it for September because I don't feel that all fifth grade kids are ready for it. Personally for my daughter maturity, she's probably okay, but like they're not prepared. I don't feel like everything's in place. um socially and emotionally they're the oldest in elementary school and it's not going to do the same I feel in fifth grade being with the seventh and eighth graders it is going to

157change and I'm just a little concerned that everything is a little rushed I just want to make sure it is like the way it needs to be laid out um have everything in place like what's the rush to do it right now and not wait a full year let everybody get acclimated to the whole idea. It's just I don't um I sent in a letter um expressing I emailed everybody. Some people responded, some didn't acknowledge it. So, >> well, we don't usually respond to emails and in all honesty, we're not supposed to. >> Okay. >> Because we we can't take a position, >> okay? >> It's not that we're ignoring it. So you guys feel that everything's in place that our kids like third the fifth grade class isn't going to be like your >>

158I'm not supposed to answer questions. >> No >> I just wanted to make sure I like >> I I I think I >> I'm not saying I'm against it. No, >> I feel like I've done everything. It is a good thing. I just feel like >> just iron everything out so our kids aren't like the block to get everybody there. Thank you. Anyone else wishing to speak? Are they coming up? Okay. I don't know. Hi, healthy um at 34 Laura Road. I'm the Maple Road PTO president this year. I I also was not prepared to get up to speak tonight, but I feel like I must because I have a fourth grader and a seventh grader, so I have a little bit of both worlds and I have an invested interest in this because of

159my fourth grader. Um, but I can tell I can share with you that my seventh grader completely flourished as as Macin they are ready for them. Um, I went for parent visitation day this year walking through the halls. It's control chaos, but it's great. I mean, they're they're excited to be there. Um, I went today to pick up my son before their um after their band practice and the teachers, the staff, they're ready. They have control over everything and it you walk in as a parent, you're like, "Oh my gosh, it's very nerve-wracking, but it's it's control." Um, at the activity night the other night, it was raining. Mr. Citro was out there with his umbrella walking kids right across the street there. I mean, to be there from I don't know what time you

160get there in the morning, but to be there until 9, 9:30, 10:00 at night for an activity night for students that I'm sure you probably wouldn't share another minute with. Um, I can tell you I am a true believer in this move. Um, I have heard from many of our parents at Maple Road as well concern about their fifth graders. I feel like majority is people that haven't been through this move yet. They don't understand the magic that happens at McApin. And I feel like it's just another year for our kids to get ready for that jump to high school. It is a a huge leap and they need that extra year. I feel like they need to have that extra time. So, I'm very excited about it. I really wish this had happened sooner.

161I feel like if it doesn't happen now, that's what we're going to be saying. Why didn't we do this sooner? So, I just want to thank you all for the time we put into this. I want to tell the parents that haven't been privy to some of the meetings we've had with Dr. Andron and Mr. Novak, you will find that they are ready. And it is it is a scary transition time. I have that fourth grader that I'm going to be waiting to see as well, but the kids that are there, they're it's seamless. Thank you. Thank you. [Applause] [Music] >> Um Christine Kuchi um 92 Bon Drive in Huitt. My uh child is in UGL. She's fifth grade and just pretty much want to say ditto everything that she said. I also have a

162daughter who's in eighth grade at Makipin and I wish she was there one more year. So for Sophia to be there for sixth, seventh, and eth I think it's a great idea. Um, Dr. Matlo said every PTA meeting from September until now has told us more than enough information about all the committee, all of the homework that's been done by all of you, not the upcoming board. And quite honestly, most of us are here tonight for a vote. We're waiting just like our kids are. When I left tonight, Sophia said, "Are you going to find out if I'm going to bid or not?" And I told her, "I hope so." I think our fifth graders are ready and I think they're waiting for you guys to make the decision. Let's do it. New year changes

163are good. >> Thank you. >> That's good to me. [Music] >> Hi, I'm Colleen Chichuga. Um 11 War Road, West Milford. Um I'm also the Marshall Hill PTA president. Um, I can tell you right now, my fifth grader is at home waiting for me to text him and tell him if he's going to math next year. Um, the minute I told him in June that there was a chance he might be going to Macin, he was so excited. His sister's in eighth grade there. He sees how wonderful that school is. My only complaint is that she doesn't have the extra time there that he may have. Um, I can't see there being any issue with moving these kids forward. Um, and I'm sure there'll be some sin, you know, a little bumps along the way,

164but everything will be fine. So, I mean, he's on this study, so I can tell the my son that, you know, that's what he wants. >> Thank you. [Applause] Hi, my name is uh Chuck Cling. I live at 11 Middle Sex Court and Crescent Park. Um, this is not about Go Max, although that was an amazing slideshow. I It's about something a little bit different. Uh, so I prepared something. Um, so hello. Some of you know me, some of you don't. My name is Chuck Clay. I live in uh the Cresant Park area of West Milford. I'm a detective with the Clifton, New Jersey Police Department. I've been there for 16 years. I'm the president of the West Milford Girls softball association. I coach both West Milford Boys Travel Baseball, West Milford Girl Travel Softball,

165and most importantly, I'm a father to two children who go to Paradise No Elementary School. While I only have two children, I also coach countless others. Um, and because of that, I feel responsible to defend them as if they were my children. Over the last three years, my children, as well as countless others, have been affected by a student now who is now in fourth grade. This student has created an atmosphere where others are feel fearful of going to school and and constantly distracted from doing what they should be doing, which is learning. After my daughter had an incident with this particular student last year, a physical incident, I had a meeting with school authorities in which I was assured that this would be addressed. Fast forward a year and a half, same issues persist.

166Constant constant issues and most recently there's reports of of threats with a sharp edge. A shelter in place was called and it was subsequently lifted after situation was resolved. Law enforcement was not contacted at the time of the incident. Although it was not mandatory, parents were not notified at the time of the incident either. However, they should have been. Imagine your child coming home from school telling you this story and feeling kept in the dark regarding where that happened. Five or so hours after parents were notified in extremely vague notification. Clearly, there's a disconnect between the school, the student students parents, other students in Paradise Middle School, and the rest of the parents of the school. There appears to be a common denominator with all the issues that persist involving the student. At some point

167in time, there needs to be an ad admittance that it just can't be everybody else. In chapter 14 of the New Jersey Attorney General Guidelines, which is the highest law of the land that we all kind of have to abide by, there's an agreement between schools and law enforcement. In this guideline, it there is a very important statement. It says, "As a general rule, if the principal or superintendent is not sure whether to call the police, the safer course is to error on the side of seeking police advice and assistance." And okay, this is important here. The police should always be called if the weapon was actually used or threatened to be used against another person. At one point, I had compassion for this student, his parents, the school. However, I have lost that compassion

168because these problems persist. I now have the responsibility to protect the rest of the kids in the school because this time it wasn't my children that had threats made against them. However, it could have been. It is also now my responsibility to insist in making the teaching staff feel safe at Paradise Elementary School, which some of them do not. They won't speak possibly out of apprehension because of uh possible retribution. Therefore, I'm going to speak for them. Enough is enough. There needs to be a safe environment for our children. a perceived a perceived safe environment for our students and a safe work workplace for our dedicated teachers. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you. >> Anyone else wishing to speak on public comment? If not, we need a motion. >> Seeing none, I move

169we close public comment. >> Second. All those in favor? >> I uh we need a motion for a uh Oh, no. We have to go back. We have to go back to your motion. Okay. Should you should read it again, right? >> Now, she should be my 10th time. Okay. >> Okay. So, this is a motion. I would like to propose that the board approves this evening the moving of the sixth graders to Makipin School beginning the 2020 2021 school year with the recommendation of the superintendent in consistent with the presentation this evening. >> Second that to the power of five. >> Okay. Discussion. [Applause] If not Oh, Mr. Joe. Um, >> I'm going to miss you in the audience. >> Uh, I found some of the discussion compelling. I've got to comment on nobody

170on the board can say something like, I think we should paint all the schools blue. You we can't speak individually. We can only speak as a group when we have voted on something which is the primary reason why we don't address I I may agree 100% but I I can't I can only speak as a citizen until the the board votes. Uh having said that I found the discussion very compelling frankly. So thank you for for you know your your voices don't go unheard even if we don't say anything. Thank you. And any other discussion? If not, roll call. Mrs. Francisco. >> Mr. Sidowitz. >> Mr. Drew? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Dwire? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Fritz? >> Yes. >> Mr. Gino? >> Yes. >> Mrs. O'Brien? >> Yes. >> Mr. Oshinsky? >> Yes. >>

171Mrs. Romeo. >> This is a vote that we're going to be voting tonight, right? >> No, that's We're voting on the motion. We're voting on the >> We're voting on the motion right now to move six to >> Thank you. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Van Dyke. >> Yes. >> Motion carries. >> So you can go home and say that sixth grade is moving now. [Applause] We need a motion to go into executive session. like a motion to pack. >> 10:00 [Music] >> we make this long. Maybe we can get more ice out there. >> Second. >> Okay. >> All those all those in favor. >> Any oppos? [Music] Yeah, it it it the action will be taken. So, we will be back out in maybe about a half an hour unless you know I don't

172know if anyone wants to >> say [Applause] [Music] um Mrs. Romeo >> here, >> Mr. Mr. Sidowitz >> here, >> Mr. Drew >> here, >> Mrs. Dwire >> here, >> Mrs. Fritz >> here. >> Mr. Gino >> here. >> Mr. Oshinsky >> here. >> Miss O'Brien >> here. >> Miss Van Dyk >> here. >> Mrs. Okay. Um move to approve the recommendation school to approve the following. 2020 H6 substantiated 20204 substantiated, H7 unsubstantiated, 220 E5 unsubstantiated, and 220 E6 unsubstantiated. >> Second, [Music] if not, roll. >> Mrs. Dwer, >> yes. >> Mrs. O'Brien. >> Yes. >> Mr. Gino, >> yes. >> Mr. Oshinsky, >> yes. >> Mrs. Fritz, >> yes. >> Mr. Sidowitz, >> yes. >> Mrs. Romeo, >> I've seen >> Mr. Drew. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Van Dyke, >> yes. >> Motion to

173adjourn. >> Second. Any discussion? >> Discussion. >> All in favor? discussing a German. >> Steve's like, "The last thing I'm discussing is in a German." >> Steve, I hope you feel well. >> Yeah. Oh, thank